PTI demands forensic testing of Bushra Bibi's leaked audio

Party leaders claim Imran's house is being tapped illegally by 'those who brought the government into power'

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders Shireen Mazari and Fawad Chaudhry demanded a forensic test of the phone tapping of Imran Khan's wife Bushra Bibi while speaking to the media in Islamabad on Monday.

On Saturday, an audio clip popped up on social media in which Bushra Bibi can be allegedly heard directing the Focal Person to PTI Chairman on Digital Media Dr Arsalan Khalid to spread the "narrative of treason".

Read Court says ‘no evidence’ of corruption against Shehbaz, Hamza

Referring to the audio clip, Shireen Mazari claimed that a forensic test would prove whether "it was fake or real".

However, hinting at the audio clip being "real", the PTI leader went on to add that "according to the Supreme Court decision, phone tapping is illegal," while stating that "the entire conversation has been cut and pasted".

"Nonetheless there is no political issue here," she claimed before adding that "previously, a government was removed for the same reason".

Although the former minister for human rights did not clarify this, it appears she was referring to the previous Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) government's claims in 2017 when the Prime Minister House had accused the Joint Investigation Team (JIT) probing into the Panamagate case of tapping phones and monitoring witnesses, which is in violation of the law and the Constitution.

Calling on the apex court to take notice of the alleged phone tapping of Imran Khan's house, Mazari contended that the actons were part of an attempt to "cover-up" the conspiracy that PTI claims was behind Imran Khan's government's ouster.

"This is being done by those who brought the current government," she stated. "Why is this happening?" she questioned as she addressed the "neutrals" and the incumbent prime minister.

Speaking on the occasion, Fawad Chaudhry also alleged that phones are continuously being tapped and conversations are being leaked across Pakistan.

Farah's corruption allegations

Former information minister Fawad also urged the government to file a case against Farah Bibi first as he pointed toward allegations of corruption being levelled against her.

Read more Ranking in Transparency index plunged due to 'political corruption': Fawad

On Sunday, the government revealed its plans to issue a red warrant for the repatriation of Farah, a close friend of former first lady Bushra Bibi, on corruption charges.

Taking the government to task, Fawad Chaudhry said "how can warrants be issued when the case has not even been registered?".

Load-shedding

Turning to the issue of frequent load-shedding in the country, Fawad furthered that the reason behind increasing power cuts was that the government did not have enough capital to procure fuel.

"It is being said that people will experience load-shedding even on Eid," he noted.

Pointing to the incumbent government's policies, Fawad said that "they immediately accepted all the conditions of the IMF [International Monetary Fund] but still could not get the bail-out package."

He claimed that this was a sign of the government's incompetence, adding that the National Accountability Bureau amendment was in reality "NRO 2" of Rs1,100 billion.

He also alleged that the former president Asif Ali Zardari was granted an NRO of Rs50 billion through Omni Group.