Cipher Audio Leaks
LAHORE
The Lahore High Court (LHC) has suspended the Federal Investigation Agency’s (FIA) summons to PTI chief Imran Khan in ‘cipher audio leak’ scam and sought replies from federal government and other respondents by December 19.
LHC judge Justice Asjad Javaid Ghural issued the suspension order in Imran’s petition challenging the FIA’s inquiry into the audio leaks related to the US cipher and its notice issued to him for recording his statement by December 6 in the LHC.
The court was requested to direct the quarters concerned to halt inquiry and declare its notices “illegal and unlawful”.
In first phase of the proceeding, the arguments revolved around whether or not the LHC has the jurisdiction to hear this matter. It is worth mentioning that LHC’s Registrar Office had raised objection about jurisdiction.
Responding to which, the PTI chief’s counsel barrister Salman Safdar argued that LHC has the jurisdiction to hear this matter and cited three cases including the one related to model Ayyan Ali. Justice Ghural questioned whether the inquiry has been conducted to probe as to how the audios were leaked. “Whether or not those persons had been investigated who were deputed there and had complete control,” Justice Ghural further asked.
The petitioner’s counsel replied that they did not know how the audios leaked. Justice Ghural remarked but the inquiry should be conducted into it to ascertain who is responsible for audio leaks. The counsel told the court that the FIA started “irrelevant inquiry” relying upon the material available on internet.
Justice Ghural observed that the forensic of the audio should have been conducted first to establish its credibility.
The counsel expressing his concern implored the court that they have doubts that a first information report (FIR) could be registered against his client, hence the FIA notice should be suspended.
The court inquired whether the FIA could issue notice in the audio leaks probe. To which, the counsel replied in the negative while the lawyer representing the federal government argued that the FIA has the authority can issue the notice.
Imran’s counsel replied that they did not know how the audio leaked and added that the FIA initiated its inquiry relying upon the material available on internet without conducting forensic of the leaked audios to establish their authenticity.
He claimed that the federal government was using FIA for vested interests and implored the court that inquiry is based on “mala fide intention with ulterior motives”. “My client is being subject of political victimisation merely to tarnish his image,” he added.
