ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan has called for empowering the high-powered judicial commission, led by Justice Qazi Faez Isa, to investigate the involvement of “powerful and unknown elements” behind the recent audio leaks related to phone tapping.
The federal government formed the commission, with Justice Naeem Akhtar Afghan and Justice Aamer Farooq as members, to conduct a thorough inquiry within 30 days.
In a detailed statement shared on his Twitter handle, Imran Khan expressed his concerns regarding the terms of reference (TORs) set by the government for the commission, stating that they failed to address the issue of who is responsible for the unlawful and unconstitutional surveillance of the Prime Minister’s office and sitting judges of the Supreme Court.
The Federal Government has formed Inquiry Commission under Section 3 of the Commissions of Inquiry Act, 2017 to investigate into the issue of Audio Leaks. However, the Terms of Reference formed by the Federal Government suffer from a deliberate omission. They fail to take into…
— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) May 20, 2023
Imran Khan demanded that the commission be empowered to investigate the powerful and unknown entities involved in the unauthorized tapping and recording of telephone conversations of citizens, including high-ranking public officials.
Imran Khan calls for accountability of those involved in leaking phone calls
He emphasized that those who illegally retrieve data through phone tapping and surveillance, as well as those involved in fabricating and leaking phone calls on social media, should be held accountable.
Highlighting the significance of privacy guaranteed under Article 14 of the Constitution, the former Prime Minister stressed that the recent wiretapping incidents represented a serious breach of privacy rights.
He underscored the need to uphold the rule of law and suggested that individuals responsible for the illegal surveillance should be identified by the commission.
Imran Khan pointed out that some of the leaked calls were made over secure phone lines in the Prime Minister’s Office but were unlawfully intercepted and manipulated.
He raised concerns about the existence of elements operating outside the authority of the Prime Minister and called for identifying those who engage in illegal surveillance with impunity.
