In a week of furore over the leaked audios, the government on Wednesday decided to set up a high-powered committee to investigate who recorded secret conversations in the land’s highest government office. And who leaked them?
This decision was taken in the National Security Committee (NSC) meeting held in Islamabad on Wednesday. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif presided over the meeting, along with important members of the cabinet, including the ministers of interior, defense, information, heads of the three forces, heads of intelligence agencies and other high officials participated.
While there was a broad agenda for discussion during the meeting, the major topic of discussion was the leaked audio recording of the conversation that took place inside the Prime Minister’s Office.
Samples of the audios were posted by an alleged ‘hacker’ on a forum where such information is bought and sold on the dark web.
One of the audio samples is related to the conversation between Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Dr. Tauqeer Shah. The Prime Minister has since confirmed the authenticity of the audio and clarified its contents.
The hacker threatened to post all the audio in the hacked database unless he got the payment he was asking for from the highest bidder.
The committee reviewed the security protocols around the top officials and decided to set up a high-powered committee to investigate the matter. Federal Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah was chosen to head this investigation committee.
During the Prime Minister’s Office’s discussion on safety and security of digital communications, it was also decided that the Ministry of Law and Justice will develop a legal framework on cyber security.
Earlier, concerned security officials briefed the forum about the cyber and digital security systems at the Prime Minister’s Office and Prime Minister’s House and the steps, if any, taken after the leak to breach the security apparatus. .
It was proposed to review the condition of digital surveillance and anti-surveillance equipment installed in PM Office and PM House.
Law and order in KP
Presiding over the meeting, Prime Minister Shehbaz also discussed the law and order situation in KP and Balochistan where attacks have been reported in recent days, including disturbing incidents along the border with Afghanistan.
Shahbaz expressed his concern over the re-emergence of banned outfits in some parts of KP. The matter was later raised in a meeting of corps commanders.
It should be noted that while holding a press conference earlier, the Prime Minister had expressed serious concern over the audio leak scandal and said that it is a violation of the security of the installations of important places and the Prime Minister’s staff of the Prime Minister’s House will also be investigated.
