In response to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan’s questions regarding the powers of the commission investigating audio leaks pertaining to the judiciary, Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah confirmed the judicial commission will have the jurisdiction to probe individuals involved in taping and disclosing the calls.
A day earlier, Khan had referred to a "deliberate omission" in the commission's Terms of Reference that sought to hold those responsible for the spying accountable.
While talking to Geo News, the minister said the commission, which will be led by Justice Qazi Faez Isa, would have the authority to look into who is recording the audio and who is leaking them.
A high-powered judicial commission was notified by the government a day earlier. It will be led by Justice Qazi Faez Isa, a senior puisne judge of the Supreme Court, and include Chief Justices Naeem Akhtar Afghan of the Balochistan High Court and Aamer Farooq of the Islamabad High Court (IHC).
He said, "The government was under pressure from civil society and others to pursue inquiry on the matter of audio leaks," adding that the government needs evidence before bringing the issue before the Supreme Judicial Council.
Sanaullah warned against utilizing privacy to commit crimes, as claimed in the purported audio leaks, saying, "Crime cannot take the shield of privacy."
Imran Khan had discussed the commission's charter, claiming that it "suffers from a deliberate omission" and lacks accountability for those "behind the unlawful and unconstitutional surveillance."
PTI Chairman Imran Khan posted a stern remark about this on Twitter.
https://twitter.com/ImranKhanPTI/status/1659897996576710658?s=20
"They neglect to consider the question of who is responsible for the illegal and unconstitutional monitoring of the PM office and the Supreme Court's sitting judges. The Commission should have the authority to look into the identities of the strong, unidentified individuals who are listening in on and recording citizens' conversations, including those of high-ranking public officials, he tweeted.
Khan went on to describe the disclosures as a "serious breach of privacy guaranteed under Article 14 of the Constitution."
A day earlier, Khan had referred to a "deliberate omission" in the commission's Terms of Reference that sought to hold those responsible for the spying accountable.
While talking to Geo News, the minister said the commission, which will be led by Justice Qazi Faez Isa, would have the authority to look into who is recording the audio and who is leaking them.
A high-powered judicial commission was notified by the government a day earlier. It will be led by Justice Qazi Faez Isa, a senior puisne judge of the Supreme Court, and include Chief Justices Naeem Akhtar Afghan of the Balochistan High Court and Aamer Farooq of the Islamabad High Court (IHC).
He said, "The government was under pressure from civil society and others to pursue inquiry on the matter of audio leaks," adding that the government needs evidence before bringing the issue before the Supreme Judicial Council.
Sanaullah warned against utilizing privacy to commit crimes, as claimed in the purported audio leaks, saying, "Crime cannot take the shield of privacy."
Imran Khan had discussed the commission's charter, claiming that it "suffers from a deliberate omission" and lacks accountability for those "behind the unlawful and unconstitutional surveillance."
PTI Chairman Imran Khan posted a stern remark about this on Twitter.
https://twitter.com/ImranKhanPTI/status/1659897996576710658?s=20
"They neglect to consider the question of who is responsible for the illegal and unconstitutional monitoring of the PM office and the Supreme Court's sitting judges. The Commission should have the authority to look into the identities of the strong, unidentified individuals who are listening in on and recording citizens' conversations, including those of high-ranking public officials, he tweeted.
Khan went on to describe the disclosures as a "serious breach of privacy guaranteed under Article 14 of the Constitution."