The investigative journalist said on his Youtube channel Talk Shock on Thursday that certain audio leaks have reportedly been shared with some important people and they could surface if things didn't go 'as per the wishes of some'.
Speaking to senior journalist Azaz Syed, Umar Cheema said that the storm of audio leaks does not seem to be abating, as some judges' audio leaks have come to the fore and there is a threat of more coming in the next few days.
The upcoming leaked audio tapes will have both past and current recordings. He stated that there are records of conversations between serving and former judges with individuals not related to their profession.
During the Supreme Court suo motu case hearing on Punjab, KP elections case, the recent alleged audio leak of former Punjab Chief Minister Pervez Elahi's conversation with Justice Syed Mazahir Ali Akbar Naqvi also came under discussion.
The larger bench agreed that judges audio leaks should not be done, but Justice Mansoor Ali Shah and Justice Athar Minallah said that while it was true that such things should not happen, judges also needed to watch their conduct.
Umar Cheema said on the show that the discussion held inside the court could not lead to any conclusions, as no explanation could be given to justify the act of audiotaping or the 'breach of conduct' on part of the judges.
He said that under the Right to Information Act, when an organisation is asked for information, they apply the 'harm test' and examine whether there would be more benefit or harm by making the details public, adding that the judiciary could take a similar approach.
Referring to the wiretapping tribunal established in the United States, Umar Cheema suggested that such a tribunal could be established in Pakistan too so that all authority and power are not concentrated in the hands of one person. Judges must also be held accountable somewhere, he added.
Azaz Syed said, "I think whoever makes the disclosure, whether it is in the judiciary or in the administration, there must be a law to protect him. There must be a 'Whistleblower Protection Law'."