Leaked Audio Clips Indicate Prime Minister's Office Is Bugged. And Data Is For Sale On The Dark Web.

A series of audio clips have emerged on social media wherein alleged conversations of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Maryam Nawaz and government officials are taking place. These audio leaks are related to Maryam Nawaz's dissatisfaction with Miftah Ismail, PM Sharif purportedly asking an official to facilitate Maryam's son-in-law and ministers for Defence and law discussing resignations of PTI lawmakers.

Reportedly, there are more leaks in store indicating that the highest civilian office, i.e. Prime minister's secretariat is bugged.

Journalist Asad Toor says that the issue of leaks from the Prime Minister’s Office is mind-boggling. In a vlog, Toor recounted the findings of this scandal.

It all began when on the dark web, someone offered to ‘sell’ the conversations of the Cabinet meetings, and those of the prime minister of Pakistan, his office, and close aides, with the ministers, military officials, and foreign delegations, with the bidding starting from $0.375 million.

The individual claimed he had the audio leaks of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, his ministers, and aides as well as those of the former premier, Imran Khan.

When the seller was asked about the authenticity of what he was offering, he released three ‘samples’, all of which are now doing rounds on the social media.

One of the audios appears to be quite clear, while the other two tell a different story. According to sources, the mics of the cellphones of each and every minister [present in the meetings] were hacked.

One arrest has reportedly been made so far while a minister is also being named, in the fiasco.

The incident must be probed and those responsible should be taken to task because otherwise, it may raise questions on the country’s ability to handle confidentiality.