IHC directs ISI DG to probe Bushra-Khosa call leak

ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court Thursday ordered the Director-General of Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), Lieutenant General Nadeem Anjum, to submit a report on who was behind the alleged leaked audio of a call between Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) former chairman Imran Khan’s wife Bushra Bibi and her lawyer Latif Khosa.

The court also asked the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) to conduct audio forensics of the leaked call between the former first lady and her counsel to probe the origins of its release.

The orders, issued by IHC’s Justice Babar Sattar, came during the hearing of a petition filed by Khosa against the leaked audio between him and his client.

Justice Sattar also directed for a copy of the plea to be sent to DG ISI, seeking a report with findings detailing who was behind the audio leak.

The court also issued notices to FIA, Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) and Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), seeking their response on the matter. The IHC adjourned the hearing of the case till December 11 (Monday).

During the proceedings on Thursday, Justice Sattar questioned how private conversations of people were being broadcast on television channels.

He also overruled the objections to the application. “What is the registrar’s office’s objection to the application?” he asked.

Khosa, in his reply to the judge, said the objection was on filing a miscellaneous application and not a separate plea. “A miscellaneous petition can be filed in the audio leaks case.”

The lawyer said that counsel-client conversations are privileged.

“Big Boss is listening to everything, you must know this,” Justice Sattar quipped. He then went on to ask who was recording the audio. Khosa said, “Everyone knows who records.”

The judge emphasized that the court can’t work on assumptions.

Latif Khosa, who is also representing Imran Khan in multiple cases, said that the matter was not only concerning for him but for all lawyers in the country.

“This is the problem of the lawyers of the whole country, not mine,” Latif Khosa added. “How will the justice system work if a lawyer cannot talk to his client freely?”

The judge then inquired if the audio had surfaced on social media.

“Audio was also aired by all TV channels,” Khosa replied.

“Did it first surface on Twitter or elsewhere?” Justice Sattar asked, asking about the platform where the audio first surfaced.

He added that it was possible to find out who recorded the audio if the origins of its release were distinguished.

Khosa censured Pemra for its ignorance while news channels ran the audio leak on air. “Otherwise, Pemra turns off the screen upon taking someone’s name [on-air],” the lawyer said.

He also complained that people had stopped talking to him on phone as his mobile set was no longer safe.

Earlier this week, Khosa filed a petition against the audio leak of his conversation with Bushra Bibi, requesting the court to ask respondents, delinquent authorities, officials and agencies not to record the former first lady’s telephone calls nor telecast or broadcast or print it in the electronic, print or social media.

“It is further prayed that to stem the illegal intrusion into the petitioner’s privacy of communication through cell/telephone or otherwise, the respondents be directed to remove the surveillance gadgets/ devices and those found involved be directed to be prosecuted under the law,” the petition read.

The fresh audio clip purportedly featuring Khan’s wife and his counsel surfaced on social media, hinting that all was not well in the former prime minister’s family with him being behind bars.

The two were purportedly heard talking about the ex-PTI chief’s sisters complaining about Khosa’s alleged misbehaviour with them.