Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif Calls Meeting Of National Security Committee To Discuss Audio Leaks From PMO

A number of audio recordings of the prime minister having private discussions with senior government figures appeared on social media last week, raising concerns.

Pakistani PM Shehbaz Sharif Calls NSC To Discuss Audio Leaks From PMO

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Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has called a meeting with the National Security Committee (NSC) on Wednesday to discuss the audio leaks from the Prime Minister's Office that have sparked a debate and led to the Opposition calling for his resignation.

A number of audio recordings of the prime minister having private discussions with senior government figures appeared on social media last week, raising concerns about the security of the position, reported PTI.

New audio tapes of senior PML-N leaders allegedly strategising about the by-elections that were recently delayed due to the terrible floods, were leaked on Monday.

The NSC meeting will take place in the PM House on Wednesday, according to an official statement made on Monday, the Express Tribune daily reported.

The meeting will be attended by senior military and civilian authorities, including the defence minister, interior minister, information minister, finance minister, and other significant cabinet members, it was announced.

A Joint Investigation Team (JIT) including a member from intelligence services operated by the Army was requested to look into the matter. The leaks are also being looked into by the Intelligence Bureau (IB).

Rana Sanaullah, the interior minister, dismissed the potential of hacking by calling it a "storm in a teacup," reported a Pakistan Daily named the Dawn.

If it was only "hacking of mobile phones," he said, there was nothing to worry about. If someone had bugged the Prime Minister's House, he did describe it as a significant security violation, though.

He maintained his stance on the matter by saying “In this case, some waiter or any other staff member of the PM House may be involved. We will punish them according to the law.”

According to the minister, the initial investigation into the situation by the Intelligence Bureau (IB) and Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) is complete. The chiefs of both agencies would inform the prime minister of the results during the NSC meeting.

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman, Khan on this matter said "PM Shehbaz Sharif should resign after the audio leaks involving him, some Cabinet members and government officials have surfaced."

(With inputs from PTI)