ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif summoned meeting of National Security Committee amid echoes of audio leaks. According to sources, PM will convene meeting on Wednesday. Meeting will be attended by leadership of all three armed forces, federal ministers and committee members.

Sources further said that authorities will be briefed on security issues including audio leaks of Prime Minister’s House in meeting. Earlier, a number of leaked audio recordings purportedly of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s discussions with his aides and other officials about different government and party matters had been leaked. Incident has raised questions about security of Prime Minister’s Office.

However, government has not yet commented on matter. In over two-minute-long audio clip, a voice said to be that of PM Shehbaz could be heard saying that Maryam Nawaz had asked him to facilitate her son-in-law with import of machinery from India. “If we do so, we will get a lot of flak when this matter goes to ECC and Cabinet,” official can be heard saying in audio clip.

At this, Prime Minister’s alleged voice can be heard saying, “Son-in-law is very dear to Maryam Nawaz. Tell her very logically about this and then I will talk to her.” Same voice also agrees with perception that this would be bad for optics and may cause political trouble. At end of audio clip, there is a mention of former Justice Maqbool Baqir, whose name was being considered as next head of National Accountability Bureau. Official is heard conveying to premier ‘suggestion’ of two media persons, asking him not to consider former judge for slot of NAB Chairman, in view of their experience with former NAB Chief Javed Iqbal, who was also a retired judge appointed by PML-N government.

Published in The Daily National Courier, September, 27 2022

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