In a recent development, the Islamabad High Court has taken action regarding the matter of recording citizens’ telephone conversations and audio leaks. The court has called upon the federal government for a response to address this issue.
To this end, the court has instructed the Secretaries of the Prime Minister, Ministry of Interior, and Ministry of Defense to provide comprehensive answers and affidavits in accordance with the court’s inquiries by September 4th. Failure to submit the response will result in the three secretaries being required to personally appear before the court on September 18th.
Justice Babar Sattar of the Islamabad High Court issued a written order following a request from Najamul Thaqib, the son of former Chief Justice of Pakistan, Justice Saqib Nisar. It was noted that the Attorney General was not present during the proceedings.
The court expressed dissatisfaction with the federal government’s response, stating that it did not align with the order given on May 31st. Consequently, the court has called for a detailed response along with an affidavit confirming the accuracy of the provided information. If the response is not received within two weeks, the Secretary to the Prime Minister, along with the Secretaries of Defense and Home, will be required to appear in person before the court on September 18th.
It is important to highlight that the court’s May 31st order inquired about the legality of surveillance and secret recording of citizens’ calls according to the constitution and the law. If such actions are not permissible, the court sought to ascertain the responsible authority for violating citizens’ privacy and releasing unlawfully recorded calls.
