Govt sets up high-level committee to probe PMO audio leaks

ISLAMABAD: The federal government Tuesday formed a high-powered committee led by Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah to probe the audio leaks featuring candid conversations between key government figures, ARY News reported.

According to the notification issued by the Cabinet Division, Director-General of the Inter-Services Intelligence (DG ISI) and Intelligence Bureau (DG IB) have been included in the 12-member committee.

The committee also includes representatives from Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), National Telecommunication and Information Security Board’s secretary.

Federal Law Minister Nazir Tarar and IT Minister Aminul Haq, Sherry Rehman and Communications Minister Maulana Asad Mahmood are also included in the committee.

The committee has been tasked to oversee and review the investigation into the cyber security breach at Prime Minister’s House. The body has been directed to complete the investigation within 7 days.

According to the notification, the committee will review the existing security protocols in the Prime Minister’s House and ensure foolproof security and digital ecosystem in the Prime Minister’s House.

Read more: PTI seeks judicial probe into PM House audio leaks on resignations

The committee will also make recommendations to secure data in the Prime Minister’s House, the notification said. The first meeting of the high-powered committee will be held tomorrow.

Audio leak saga

Several audios of the incumbent government including Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and former PM Imran Khan have been leaked on social media in a span of eight days.

The first audio was leaked last Saturday, which allegedly featured PM Shehbaz Sharif and a senior official, discussing PML-N Vice President Maryam Nawaz regarding the import of a power plant from India for her son-in-law.

Later on Sunday, two more audios were leaked on social media.

The first audio related to Imran Khan regarding the diplomatic cypher was leaked on September 28, while the second audio of Imran Khan with regard to the diplomatic cypher surfaced on September 30.

The National Security Committee (NSC) then approved the constitution of a high-powered committee led by Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah to probe the audio leaks.

The meeting was attended by ministers for defence, energy, information and broadcasting, interior, finance, human rights, planning, development and special initiatives, chairman joint chiefs of staff committee, services chiefs, national security adviser and senior officers.