FIA probe into ‘Elahi audio leaks’ ordered

Ex-Punjab CM denies any wrongdoing; says he respects judiciary

ISLAMABAD:

Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah on Thursday said he had directed the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) to conduct a forensic analysis of former Punjab chief minister Chaudhry Parvez Elahi’s latest audio leaks -- surfaced earlier in the day on social media -- in which he purportedly wanted cases to be fixed before a sitting apex court judge.

“These audio leaks are very embarrassing in which a new ‘minion’ of [PTI chairman and former premier] Imran Khan is involved,” the minister added while addressing a news conference in Islamabad.

Elahi, however, responded that a “wrong impression” was being given to his conversation with a lawyer about the Muhammad Khan Bhatti case.

During the news conference, the minister played the ‘censored’ leaked audio clips in which Elahi could allegedly be heard discussing about the cases being heard in the SC, including the one involving former Lahore police chief Ghulam Mehmood Dogar.

Sanaullah claimed that he had censored the leaked audio clips as he did not want to reveal the identity of the SC judge before a forensic analysis was conducted.

The minister said he had directed the FIA to conduct a forensic analysis of the audio clips and then arrest Elahi for interrogation after registering a case against him.

He added that the FIA had also been directed to consult with the law ministry on the matter.

Sanaullah further noted that similar conversations were leaked on several occasions in the past, but no action was taken against them.

The minister referred to the video leak controversy involving former accountability court judge Arshad Malik.

In the video, Malik could be seen telling a close aide to PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif that he had been “blackmailed and pressured” to convict the former premier.

“Arshad Malik had explained how he was made to issue a verdict. He took names and named those who called him and what they said. He had mentioned the chief justice of the time [however] there was no action taken,” he maintained.

He added that if action had been taken in the past, then Elahi would not be managing the country’s top court so “courageously”.

Sanaullah requested the chief justice of Pakistan to take notice of the matter.

The minister said if Elahi was found to be guilty after the forensic analysis, then the matter should be taken up before the CJP or judicial committee.

Speaking about the Lahore High Court's verdict to reject the PTI chief’s bail plea, Sanaullah said in his view the former premier should be arrested after he failed to appear before it.

“It is obligatory for everyone to show respect and dignity for the courts. However, Imran despite repeated summons, was not appearing before the court and violating the law,” he maintained.

The minister appealed to the CJP to take notice of Imran’s remarks, wherein he had allegedly mocked the judiciary and demanded that he should be arrested for the act.

To a query, he said he would discuss the matter with the government to immediately arrest the PTI chairman.

The minister also alleged that Elahi had “maligned an institution”.

Reiterating that the CJP should take notice of the issue, he said the government would do whatever fell within its domain.

Sanaullah said that the audio clips were proven to be false, it meant that Elahi was deliberately involved in “criminal and conspiratorial talk” that would lead to the people losing trust in the country’s judiciary.

Meanwhile, the former Punjab chief minister said that there was “nothing wrong” about it. He added Muhammad Khan Bhatti had been missing for 10 days, adding that his wife had also approached the apex court in this connection.

He inquired what was wrong with a person approaching a court seeking justice.

“The PML-N leadership is running a systematic drive against the judiciary. We have always respected the judiciary,” he claimed.

Abid Shahid Zuberi, the president of the Supreme Court Bar Association of Pakistan, in a statement has clarified that an audio is circulating on the social media in which he was reported to be conversing with Elahi.

“[It] implies that he [Elahi] is asking me to influence some proceedings in the Supreme Court. I have gone through the audio recording and I categorically state that this audio is doctored,” he claimed.

“My office is doing a case in the Sindh High Court of a ‘missing person’, one Mr Muhammad Khan Bhatti who was a close aide of Mr Elahi and had conversation in this regard. This case has nothing to do with any pending proceedings in the Supreme Court,” he added.

Zuberi further maintained that as for former Lahore police chief Dogar’s case, he had been conducting as a lawyer for it since November 28, 2022, wherein interim orders were operating.

“It is obvious that some unscrupulous elements are behind the circulation of this doctored audio so as to damage my credibility to lead the Bar’s struggle for the rule of law, independence of judiciary, democracy and constitutionalism. This audio also amounts to an attack on the independence of the judiciary,” he claimed.

“Let all and sundry know and understand that such mischievous tactics will not deter me from continuing the Bar’s struggle,” he added.

Two separate audio clips were leaked on social media earlier in the day.

In the first audio clip, a man believed to be Elahi is heard telling “Joja sahab” that the SC judge should be appointed to hear the “Muhammad Khan case”.

Joja responded that he would go to Islamabad today.

“He was saying today that they will send [the matter] to Islamabad. We will attempt [our efforts] in the process, which starts after that,” the man identified as Joja added.

Elahi allegedly told Joja to have it done.

The former Punjab chief minister purportedly added that the judge was “very audacious” to which Joja agreed.

In the second audio clip, Elahi allegedly told another man that a specific case had to be fixed for hearing before the SC judge.

The other man was then heard asking whether or not the case had been filed.

To this, Elahi purportedly responded that it had been filed and said Joja should be asked about its details.

The other man allegedly told Elahi that he would find out about the details from Joja. He added that spoken about the case “yesterday” too and it was not ready until then. “I will check,” he added.

Elahi purportedly told him to ensure that the task was properly carried out. The other man replied that he would do it.

The ex-Punjab chief minister allegedly told the other man that “no one has to be told”.

To this, the other man replied that he understood.

The Pakistan Bar Council has demanded an investigation into the audio clips on social media in connection with the fixing of cases before a particular bench or a judge of the SC.

In a statement, PBC Vice Chairman Haroon-ur-Rashid and Executive Committee Vice Chairman Hassan Raza Pasha have shown their serious concerns over the image of the superior judiciary.

They noted that the conduct and demeanour of the judges of the superior judiciary must be seen as neutral and impartial.

The PBC office-bearers stressed the need for not giving any impression that the judges were favouring any political party.

They added that the judges should avoid making remarks on any political matter.

The PBC office-bearers warned that such an impression would shake the confidence of the public at large as well as the lawyers community and damage the image of the judiciary as well.

They highlighted the need for judges to avoid making comments, whereby any constitutional office was ridiculed.

They added that there should not be any impression that the judges had presumed the role of prosecutor, petitioner or the defendant.

The PBC office-bearers demanded that the chief justice of Pakistan, who was also the head of the Supreme Judicial Council, should order a thorough investigation into the audio clips in connection with the fixing of cases before a particular bench or a judge of the SC.

After the scrutiny, if it is found that audio clips were fake, then action should be taken against those who prepared them and made them viral on the social media, they added.

“However, if [they are] found [to be] genuine, then action should be taken according to Article 209 of the Constitution,” the PBC concluded.

 

(With input from APP)