ISLAMABAD: The controversy surrounding the recent audio leaks in Pakistan has taken another turn, as a new audio clip allegedly featuring former Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Saqib Nisar’s son, Najam Saqib, has surfaced online. In the clip, Najam Saqib can be heard discussing the provincial assembly ticket issued by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) with Abuzar Chadhar, a PTI candidate from PP137, and another individual identified as Mian Uzair.
According to a report published in a local newspaper, the fresh list of PTI candidates showed that the party had fielded scions of political and influential families or former MNAs and MPAs who had been with Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N), Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) or Pakistan Muslim League Quaid (PML-Q) in the past.
The leaked audio allegedly features Najam Saqib arguing with Mian Uzair over money related to the ticket deal.
In one of the conversations, Najam Saqib allegedly asked Abuzar Chadhar to visit his father to thank him for his efforts. “You just come to meet Baba to thank him. Nothing else,” Najam Saqib can be heard saying in the audio. “He will come back by 11 o’clock. You just come to give him a hug. He has worked hard a lot.”
In the second audio clip, Najam Saqib can be heard discussing the ticket deal with Mian Uzair. “What’s the scene now?” Najam Saqib asks. “I will talk, okay?” Mian Uzair responds. “What do you mean by you’ll talk about it? It was done and decided,” Najam Saqib says. “Don’t take less than 120 or else I’ll break your legs.”
Reacting to the latest audio leak, PML-N Chief Organiser Maryam Nawaz criticized the former chief justice for allegedly misusing his powers. “Think, those who have retired now, how will they be misusing their powers when they were occupying offices. Nawaz Sharif is silent,” she said.
جن کے ریٹائر ہوکر یہ حالات ہیں، سوچیں جب وہ طاقت کےنشےمیں اپنی کرسیوں پر فرعونِ وقت بنے بیٹھے تھے تو کس طرح اپنے اختیارات کا ناجائز استعمال کررہے ہوں گے۔نواز شریف چپ ہے مگر اللّہ تعالیٰ کی قدرت کہ اسکے خلاف سازش کرنےوالے سازشیوں کا گھناؤنا چہرہ اور گٹھ جوڑ ہر روز رسوا ہو رہا ہے۔
— Maryam Nawaz Sharif (@MaryamNSharif) April 29, 2023
سوچیں، انصاف کی سب سے بڑی کرسی پر بیٹھ کر ریاست کی تقدیر کے فیصلے ساسوں، دامادوں اور بچوں کو entertain کرنے کی خاطر یا انکے مالی مفادات کی خاطر ہورہے ہیں۔
دنیا کی تاریخ میں ایسا گھناؤنا عدالتی مذاق آج تک کسی ریاست کے ساتھ نہیں ہوا ہوگا۔ عمران اور اسکو کو مسلط کرنے والے پاکستان…— Maryam Nawaz Sharif (@MaryamNSharif) April 29, 2023
PTI yet to respond to latest audio leak
The PTI has not yet commented on the latest audio leak. However, the party has recently withdrawn tickets for 21 constituencies and fielded fresh candidates after a backlash.
The fresh list of candidates has caused controversy, with many accusing the party of giving tickets to candidates based on their family connections rather than merit.
The latest audio leak is likely to add fuel to the fire and raise questions about the transparency of PTI’s candidate selection process.
The audio leak saga has once again highlighted the issue of corruption and nepotism in Pakistani politics. It remains to be seen how the PTI and other parties will respond to the latest developments and whether any action will be taken against those allegedly involved in the ticket deal.
