Pakistan today lodged a protest with the US over reports that a leading political party in the country was put under surveillance by an American spy agency.
According to media reports the National Security Agency (NSA) had spied on Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP).
The PPP figures in the list of foreign political parties along with the BJP of India, Lebanon's Amal, Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood on whom the NSA was given permission to carry out surveillance, says a document made public on Monday by 'The Washington Post'.
Foreign Office (FO) in a statement said Pakistan noted with concern the recent media reports indicating that it is among the countries subject to surveillance by US government departments.
"The US Embassy in Islamabad was conveyed today that such an action against Pakistani government departments or other organisations, entities and individuals is not in accord with international law and recognised diplomatic conduct," it said.
The FO said that a reference to a political party in Pakistan was surprising.
"The US side was further conveyed that surveillance was contrary to the spirit of friendly relations between our two countries. In the interest of friendly and cooperative ties, we have urged the US to stop such activities," the FO said.
Pakistan People's Party has also expressed its displeasure over the revelation that the NSA was spying on the political party in 2010 and said that "those who have violated the norms owe an apology."
The document lists 193 foreign governments as well as foreign factions and other entities that were part of a 2010 certification approved by the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court.
