Islamabad: The Attorney General has told the court in the hearing of the audio leaks case that the government has not given permission to anyone for the audio tape, if any agency is doing it, it is illegal.
Former Chief Justice Saqib Nisar’s son and Bushra Bibi’s son and Bushra Bibi’s lawyer Latif was heard before the Islamabad High Court Justice Babar Sattar on the petitions against the summon notices of the Parliamentary Committee and FIA on the audio leaks. Khosa and Attorney General Mansoor Awan appeared before the court. On this occasion, the report of the Prime Minister’s Office was presented to the court by the Attorney General.
In the audio leaks case, the Attorney General told the Islamabad High Court that the federal government did not allow the audio tapes to any agency or agency including the ISI, FIA and IB. If any government agency is making these recordings, they Doing it illegally.
Justice Babar Sattar remarked that whoever comes says that audio tape is not allowed, then who and why is doing this? Now it is up to the federal government how they want to handle this case. If the government does not tell, then we will appoint national and international judicial assistants.
Attorney General Mansoor Awan said that the Prime Minister’s Office is of the opinion that the federal government has not given permission to any organization or agency for the audio tape. The FIA has to first check who recorded the call. After court orders, FIA is writing to telecom companies. FIA may want access to these IP addresses. If any government agency is making these recordings, it is doing so illegally.
The Attorney General further said that according to the ISI report, the report will have to be taken from the social media platforms only then the investigation can proceed.
Justice Babar Sattar remarked that while the ISI is saying that the audio was leaked, it cannot trace its source. The court asked PEMRA what action it had taken against the TV channels that broadcast the audio leaks. Who? Are you effectively acting as a regulator? Pemra said private audio leaks cannot be aired by TV channels. We have sent this matter to the Council of Complaints, they will decide.
Justice Babar Sattar inquired whether you have issued urgent instructions to TV channels in any other case. You are saying that you cannot take immediate action, the matter will go to Pemra Council of Complaints.
Bushra Bibi’s lawyer Latif Khosa said that those audio leaks continued to play on TV channels not once for a whole day. On this occasion, the court also decided to appoint senior journalists related to TV channels code of conduct as judicial assistants.
Justice Babar Sattar addressed Aitzaz Ahsan during the hearing and said that on one side Freedom of Information is a matter of privacy on the other side, how should there be a balance. Please tell me how to proceed with this case now. Aitzaz Ahsan said that there should be self-regulations, here the constitution is not followed. The constitution called for 90 days of election but it was not implemented.
The court asked the Attorney General to check if there was any news that IB was given the authority to record, is it so? Attorney General Mansoor Awan said that I will check and let you know. The court adjourned the hearing while directing the other parties including PTA, FIA to submit their reply again.
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