Audio leaks case: Heads of investigative agencies summoned

ISLAMABAD: In a significant development, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) has summoned the Director General (DG) of Intelligence Bureau (IB) and the DG of Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) on February 19 concerning the ongoing audio leaks case.

Presided over by Justice Babar Sattar, the hearing revolves around petitions filed by Bushra Bibi and Najam us Saqib, the son of the former Chief Justice of Pakistan, pertaining to the said audio leaks.

Justice Babar Sattar issued a comprehensive seven-page written order in the case, revealing that the Attorney General affirmed that the federal government did not authorize any intelligence agency to record telephone calls. However, questions lingered over the recording and subsequent leak of audio involving Bushra Bibi and Latif Khosa.

Expressing skepticism, Justice Babar Sattar directed the Intelligence Bureau to conduct a thorough investigation and submit a detailed report, emphasizing the need to determine who leaked the audio and identify the account holder responsible.

Audio leak: Latif Khosa confirms privacy breach

The court learned that a secret agency, via the Ministry of Defence, submitted a report on the audio leaks but lacked the capability to trace the source on social media. The Attorney General underscored the importance of protecting citizens’ privacy and rights, prompting the FIA to seek additional time for a comprehensive response.

The court instructed the FIA to provide details on social media accounts sharing the leaked audio and summoned the DG of FIA to elucidate the methods of surveillance and phone call recording.

According to the IHC order, the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) submitted a report stating its inability to trace the source on social media.

The court mandated the IB to conduct an inquiry and submit a report detailing the accounts through which the audio leaks were shared in three weeks. Additionally, the DG of IB was tasked with elucidating who could conduct surveillance on Pakistani citizens and whether the state possesses the capability to prevent illegal surveillance.

The FIA, granted additional time, is expected to submit a detailed report on the leaked audio’s social media accounts.

The Director General of FIA is also required to appear in court to explain the procedures involved in surveillance and recording, as outlined in the court’s order.

Web Desk