The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has ordered a comprehensive investigation into the leaked audio call between Bushra Bibi, wife of former Prime Minister Imran Khan, and her lawyer Latif Khosa. It is widely alleged that ISI was behind the series of audio leaks to damage Khan’s reputation. Khan’s marital life has been intense scrutiny which too, it is believed, is orchestrated by the Pakistan Army.
Justice Babar Sattar, who presided over the hearing, issued several key directives:
DG ISI involvement: The court directed Lieutenant General Nadeem Anjum, Director-General of Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), to submit a report identifying the individuals responsible for the audio leak. This inclusion of ISI points to a possible state-level involvement in the incident.
FIA investigation: The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) was tasked with conducting a forensic audit of the leaked audio to trace its origin and identify the parties involved in its dissemination.
Notice to regulatory bodies: Notices were issued to Pemra (Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority), PTA (Pakistan Telecommunication Authority), and FIA, seeking their response and explanation regarding the leak and its broadcast on television channels.
Concern over government surveillance: Justice Sattar expressed concern over the widespread surveillance of private conversations and questioned how such recordings find their way onto television channels.
Khosa’s concerns: Khosa highlighted the impact of the leak on his professional life, stating that individuals are hesitant to speak with him due to the compromised security of his phone.
Pemra’s inaction: Khosa criticized Pemra for failing to take action against television channels that aired the leaked audio, contrasting it with their swiftness in censoring individuals’ names on-air.
Next steps:
The IHC adjourned the hearing until December 11, 2023, awaiting the reports and responses from the relevant parties.
The court’s involvement and the directive for an ISI investigation suggest a serious commitment to uncovering the truth behind the leak and its potential implications.
Overall, this incident raises significant concerns about privacy violations, potential state-level involvement in surveillance, and the protection of client-lawyer confidentiality in Pakistan. The ongoing investigation is expected to shed light on these issues and determine the appropriate course of action.