And now audio leak from Imran Khan...reportedly of Imran discussing 'foreign conspiracy' cypher

[MenInG]

An audio leak allegedly of former premier Imran Khan and his principal secretary at the time, Azam Khan, surfaced on Wednesday in which the two were discussing the diplomatic cypher.

The purported audio file starts midway through a conversation between the two and is titled 'Story of the cypher conspiracy part 1'.

“Now we have to play with this. Don’t take America’s name, just play with this,” the PTI chief says allegedly in the audio clip, to which a second voice claimed to be Azam's advises that a meeting be held on the topic first.

The second voice then adds that whatever Qureshi (then FM) reads out in the meeting, "will be changed in the copy" and then "I will make the minutes that the foreign secretary has prepared this".

Read Imran Khan sends diplomatic cypher to CJP

The voice further states that the analysis would be conducted and converted into minutes "as we want" so that "it becomes part of the record".

“The minutes will be under my hand so it is not like they will draft the minutes on their own.”.

He is then asked by a voice, allegedly of Imran, who else would be attending the meeting, besides the two of them, Qureshi and (foreign secretary) Sohail.

His question is met with an affirmative, “That is all”. “Let’s do this tomorrow only,” the PTI chief supposedly responds.

“We need to do this so things are on the record. The consulate is for the state. When he is reading it out loud, I will copy it down so it is on record that this thing really did happen,” Azam explains further.

He then suggests that Imran should call the foreign secretary so the issue is also on the bureaucratic record.

“We don’t have a copy so how did they pick it up?” questions Azam to which the voice attributed to Imran says "anyhow, if this is present then lets make it into a foreign conspiracy".

'PMO security at risk'

Earlier, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif confirmed the authenticity of audio leaks and his conversation with PML-N vice president Maryam Nawaz but termed the leaks as a “serious security lapse” and announced the formation of a high-powered committee to probe the issue.

The prime minister while terming the leaking of audio taps allegedly recorded at the Prime Minister House involving the premier and other high-profile people “a serious lapse”, “security breach” and “a big question mark”, announced he was forming the committee to probe the matter as the country’s respect was at stake.

“This is a very important matter and this serious security lapse and breach are a big question mark…who will be willing to come to meet the prime minister…anyone will think a 100 times before discussing any sensitive matter at the PM House,” he said.

Last week, the premier and key members of his party and family became the centre of attention after audio recordings purportedly of their conversation surfaced on social media.

The audios drew sharp criticism from the opposition, which expressed concerns over the security of the Prime Minister Office (PMO). However, several government ministers insisted that the audios pointed to no wrongdoing.

Soon after the audios surfaced, there was a storm on social media, many bashing the government and expressing shock at the way sensitive audios had purportedly leaked from the PMO.

Express Tribune

 

[Gayle_Force]

“We don’t have a copy so how did they pick it up?” questions Azam to which the voice attributed to Imran says "anyhow, if this is present then lets make it into a foreign conspiracy".

Doesn’t seem like he said that line.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="ur" dir="rtl">آڈیو میں پہلی دو نمبری سامنے آ گئی۔ آڈیو کے آخر میں عمران خان کہہ رہے ہیں کہ "اینی ہاؤ یہ ہے تو بیرونی سازش ہی" جبکہ ٹرانسکرپٹ میں لکھا ہے کہ "اینی ہاؤ اس کو بیرونی سازش بنا دیتے ہیں"۔ دونوں جملوں میں زمین آسمان کا فرق ہے۔ لکیر کا فقیر میڈیا ٹرانسکرپٹ والے جملے پر شور کر رہا ہے <a href="https://t.co/AlyMfqP8YD">pic.twitter.com/AlyMfqP8YD</a></p>— Muhammad Faizan Khan (@FaizanFayzi) <a href="https://twitter.com/FaizanFayzi/status/1575046207834972161?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 28, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[Bewal Express]

This was leaked by the mafia and not by the hacker but it has back fired. They have broken the law and the SC needs to take notice.

 

[MenInG]

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan on Wednesday confirmed the authenticity of the audio leak - featuring him and his principal secretary at the time, Azam Khan - and said that it is “a good thing” thing that the conversation was leaked, adding that the diplomatic cypher they were discussing should also be released to the public.

The ousted premier talked to media personnel at the Punjab House after an audio clip between the two PTI leaders surfaced online earlier today, wherein they were discussing the diplomatic cypher.

Imran maintained that the cypher itself should be released so that the nation could see "the magnitude of the conspiracy".

The PTI leader further alleged that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had leaked the audio conversation.

A reporter highlighted that in the audio, Imran had said that he would “play to the cypher”, to which Imran replied that he was yet to play to it completely.

He told the journalists that if they exposed the cypher, he would “play to it”.

The purported audio file starts midway through a conversation between Imran and Azam and is titled 'Story of the cypher conspiracy part 1'.

“Now we have to play with this. Don’t take America’s name, just play with this,” the PTI chief says allegedly in the audio clip, to which a second voice claimed to be Azam's advises that a meeting be held on the topic first.

The PTI government's audio leaks come shortly after PM Shehbaz and key members of his party became the centre of attention over the weekend after audio recordings purportedly of their conversation surfaced on social media.

The audios drew sharp criticism from the opposition, which expressed concerns over the security of the Prime Minister's Office (PMO). However, several government ministers insisted that the audios pointed to no wrongdoing.

Govt data on dark web

Amid the audio leaks fiasco which engulfed the entire nation, cyber experts said that the data of all government and private websites that had been hacked during the last year was available on the dark web.

They opined on Monday that the cyber security in Pakistan was not up to the mark as per our strategic planning.

When contacted, Director Forensic Research and Services Centre Lahore Garrison University Kokab Zuberi explained to The Express Tribune what the dark web actually is.

Read More Shehbaz admits ‘security lapse’ at PMO

"The dark web is part of the internet that requires special software to access. It is a world of crime which is out of reach of even the law enforcement agencies," he added.

Zuberi said that the data of all the government and private websites hacked in Pakistan during the last year is also available on the dark web, adding that the hackers use digital currencies including Bitcoin for transactions.

He said that law enforcement agencies, especially those related to cyber security, are busy in operations against dark web operators but it is very difficult to trace them.

Express Tribune

 

[MenInG]

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Vice President Maryam Nawaz Sharif on Wednesday called former prime minister Imran Khan a "traitor" after an audio clip surfaced that purportedly has a conversation between the PTI chief and his former principal secretary Azam Khan.

The purported audio file starts midway through a conversation between the two and is titled 'Story of the cypher conspiracy part 1'.

“Now we have to play with this. Don’t take America’s name, just play with this,” the PTI chief says in the audio clip, to which a second voice claimed to be Azam's advises that a meeting be held on the topic first.

The latest leak followed audio recordings purportedly of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and key members of PML-N which surfaced on social media last week.

The audios drew sharp criticism from the opposition, which expressed concerns over the security of the Prime Minister Office (PMO). However, several government ministers insisted that the audios pointed to no wrongdoing.

Soon after the audios surfaced, there was a storm on social media, many bashing the government and expressing shock at the way sensitive audios had purportedly leaked from the PMO.

"If this traitor Imran is not taught a lesson even after all kinds of serious crimes that have been proved today, then all of us will be considered responsible for the destruction of the country," Maryam wrote on her official Twitter handle today.

She said that a country of 220 million remained "hostage" for four years in the hands of "an incompetent traitor", who she claimed left no stone unturned in destroying the country internally and externally.

"People like [former chief justice] Saqib Nisar declared him (Imran Khan) Sadiq and Ameen… what crime has not been proven against him? He himself is saying that he will play with the public," PML-N leader stated.

"The sad thing is not that a foreign-trained and funded person played with the destiny of Pakistan as he had taken millions of dollars for creating chaos in the country. The worrying aspect is that Imran continued to do all that and everyone watched silently."

Meanwhile, Pakistan Democratic Alliance (PDM) President and JUI-F Amir Maulana Fazlur Rehman, in his response to the audio leaks controversy, said that they would soon call a meeting of the alliance and update policy matters.

"We are trying to take the nation out of the chaos of internal division and lead it towards national unity so that the political and economic crises can be overcome," he added.

He said that political stability in any country is a step towards economic development and a strong basis for national security.

Fazl said that the PTI government has not only weakened the country economically but also divided the nation through the politics of hatred and revenge.

"By trampling our social values and political traditions, PTI has polluted political tolerance and morals of the young generation," he added.

The PDM head said that Imran Khan deliberately weakened the parliament and made all the institutions including the judiciary and election commission controversial.

"PDM will make sure that reputation of state institutions is maintained by ensuring the implementation of the constitutional formula of devolution of powers," he added.

He expressed hope that the alliance will be able to get the nation back on its feet soon after overcoming the floods devastations and economic crisis.

Express TRibune

 

[MenInG]

Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah on Wednesday announced that the government will conduct forensic audits of the leaked audios being attributed to Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif and PTI Chairman Imran Khan.

Earlier today, the former prime minister's alleged sound bite surfaced on the internet in which he could be heard instructing his then-principal secretary Azam Khan to "play" with the US cypher.


In the audio, a man could be heard talking about the cypher which — according to Khan — mentions the "threat" to oust his government.

Following the leaked audio saga, the interior minister — in a press conference in Islamabad — said that if Khan's audio is real, then he should be exposed before the nation.

"Khan has created a narrative of an American conspiracy to mislead the nation and divide it," he added.

Criticising the PTI chief, the interior minister said that Khan has caused "irreparable damage to Pakistan and destroyed the country's economy and political culture".

"I will show students Imran Khan's awful face," said Sanaullah with reference to a university lecture that Khan delivered, adding that this "political fitna" has to be ended in a political way.

The minister further said that the audio talks about changing the minutes of government meetings.

"This player is playing with the nation and is working on a specific agenda," he said, adding that Khan's political narrative will be exposed.

Last week, two audios allegedly featuring Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had leaked. The first audio contained a discussion regarding PML-N Vice President Maryam Nawaz asking for a power plant from India to be imported for her son-in-law.

The second alleged video about Sanaullah, Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif, Sardar Ayaz Sadiq and others was also leaked, and it contained a discussion regarding PTI’s resignations.

 

[Bewal Express]

Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah on Wednesday announced that the government will conduct forensic audits of the leaked audios being attributed to Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif and PTI Chairman Imran Khan.

Earlier today, the former prime minister's alleged sound bite surfaced on the internet in which he could be heard instructing his then-principal secretary Azam Khan to "play" with the US cypher.


In the audio, a man could be heard talking about the cypher which — according to Khan — mentions the "threat" to oust his government.

Following the leaked audio saga, the interior minister — in a press conference in Islamabad — said that if Khan's audio is real, then he should be exposed before the nation.

"Khan has created a narrative of an American conspiracy to mislead the nation and divide it," he added.

Criticising the PTI chief, the interior minister said that Khan has caused "irreparable damage to Pakistan and destroyed the country's economy and political culture".

"I will show students Imran Khan's awful face," said Sanaullah with reference to a university lecture that Khan delivered, adding that this "political fitna" has to be ended in a political way.

The minister further said that the audio talks about changing the minutes of government meetings.

"This player is playing with the nation and is working on a specific agenda," he said, adding that Khan's political narrative will be exposed.

Last week, two audios allegedly featuring Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had leaked. The first audio contained a discussion regarding PML-N Vice President Maryam Nawaz asking for a power plant from India to be imported for her son-in-law.

The second alleged video about Sanaullah, Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif, Sardar Ayaz Sadiq and others was also leaked, and it contained a discussion regarding PTI’s resignations.

So the cypher was real and the Ambassadors message was hidden from IK. This leak from Nani and the crooks proves IK right and desperation to divert from Nani abusing govt offices for personal gain, and her and uncle blackmailing judges is on record

 

[MenInG]

PML-N Vice President Maryam Nawaz on Thursday held PTI chief Imran Khan and his "coach" responsible for the recently surfaced audio leaks featuring candid conversations between key figures in the coalition government.

Speaking to reporters outside the Islamabad High Court (IHC) after being acquitted in the Avenfield reference, Maryam accepted that four of the clips featured her.

"I know who is doing this all [...] Imran and his coach are involved," she said without elaborating further.

Commenting on the audio in which she purportedly asked Prime Minister Shehbaz to discontinue the PTI's Sehat Card initiative, Maryam insisted that the health project was launched by PML-N supremo Nawaz.


I had worked hard on the health programme and it was launched by Nawaz Sharif, she claimed.

"I asked the PM to own the programme launched by his party and I never said to discontinue the initiative," she said.

When asked whether she believed that the "establishment" was responsible for her conviction in the Avenfield case, Maryam instantly responded: "Who was the beneficiary?

"Imran knew he would not be able to come to power if Nawaz remained in the battleground," she said. She said the PTI chief and his "coaches" would be "finished" in the near future.

In response to another question, Maryam said a nexus comprising "Imran, his coach and a couple of TV channels" were behind the audio leaks.

She also demanded that a "high-powered" joint investigation team (JIT) — consisting of government ministers, Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and Intelligence Bureau (IB) officials and law ministry representatives — be formed to probe the alleged audio leak of Imran Khan and his then-principal secretary Azam Khan.

"I believe the facts that have emerged should lead to his [Imran's] arrest and he must be jailed straightaway," she said.

Last week, a recording said to be of PM Shehbaz surfaced where he was discussing with an unidentified official the possibility of facilitating the import of Indian machinery for a power project that was a concern of his niece Maryam Nawaz’s son-in-law. On Sunday, further recordings surfaced, which were shared on social media by several PTI leaders, concerning Finance Minister Miftah Ismail and the resignations of PTI lawmakers from the National Assembly.

The contents of the leaked recordings, which appear to be informal audio leaks featuring candid conversations between key figures in the PM Office — as opposed to recorded phone conversations — were not denied by the government. Information Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb had insisted that these only showed that “nothing illegal had happened”.

The National Security Committee (NSC) meeting was also held on Wednesday which constituted a body to investigate the leaks, besides agreeing on putting in place a "legal framework" pertaining to cyber security.

“The [NSC] meeting approved the formation of a high-powered committee to investigate the issue of audio leaks,” the PM Office said after the high-level session that was attended by key ministers, services chiefs and top spy agencies officials.

The committee will be led by Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah.

The media statement issued after the NSC meeting did not say anything about the fate of an ongoing investigation into the matter, which involves intelligence agencies, as to whether that would be taken over by the new body or would continue in parallel.

The investigation was started soon after the audio leaks appeared on social media a few days back.

Several staffers of PM House have been grilled.

The NSC was briefed about the probe that was already taking place, according to the PM Office.

DAWN

 

[MenInG]

Muzaffarabad: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Chief Imran Khan has said that the leaked audio conversation between him and his principal secretary has damaged Shahbaz Sharif’s reputation and not his, ARY News reported.

Addressing the public gathering in Muzaffarabad, Imran Khan said that over 100,000 people have sacrificed their lives in the struggle for Kashmir’s independence. He said that he would fight for the Kashmir cause until he is alive.

He added that their government ended all ties with India when Narendra Modi’s government ended Kashmir’s special constitutional status. Trade with India would be beneficial but we did not prefer it over our Kashmiri brothers’ struggle, he added.

 

[MenInG]

After an audio recording of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders leaked two days ago, another recording emerged on Friday, an alleged extension of the last leak wherein PTI chief Imran Khan and others are allegedly discussing the diplomatic cypher.

The 1.09-minute long audio emerged on social media and features a conversation supposedly between Imran Khan, Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Asad Umar and Azam Khan about the cypher-related “foreign conspiracy” to remove the then premier from power.

The former premier’s voice can be heard, apparently stating that “we have to hold a meeting tomorrow, you and the three of us (Imran, Qureshi and Azam Khan) and the foreign secretary”.

The voice, believed to be of Imran's, furthered that “In the meeting, we have to quietly tell them to write the minutes of the meeting”, adding that Azam Khan had said that the meeting minutes should be drafted and photocopied.

The second voice, supposedly of Azam's, asks if “this cypher arrived on the 7th or 8th,” before saying that “it came on the 8th”.

Imran allegedly replies that the meeting was held on the 7th.

The ostensible voice of the PTI chief constantly reiterates that “under no circumstances” should the country where the conspiracy emerged from be named.

“So on this issue please, the country's name should not be spoken by anyone. This is very important”, he can be heard saying.

He emphasised that “the country the letter came from, I don’t want to hear the name from anyone”.

Read Sana to head panel on audio leaks

A voice reportedly of Asad Umar then asks if Imran was calling it a letter “deliberately”. “This is not [a] letter, it is the meeting’s transcript,” Asad can be heard saying.

The voice attributed to Imran’s replies that the letter and the transcript were “the same thing”. “People wouldn’t understand transcript. You say things like this in your jalsa.”

Previous audio

A 1.43-minute audio clip appeared on social media earlier - allegedly leaked by a hacker - purportedly revealing a conversation between the former prime minister and his principal secretary about using the classified diplomatic cable for political purposes.

“We have to play with this. Don’t take America’s name, just play with this,” the PTI chief allegedly said in the audio clip. To this, a second voice, claimed to be that of Azam, advised him that a meeting be held on the subject first.

“See, if you recall, in that [cypher] the ambassador has written in the end to [send a] demarche,” Azam allegedly responded.

“Even if the demarche is not to be sent, as I have thought a lot about it at night — you [Imran] said they raised it — I thought about how to cover all this,” he added.
Azam allegedly further advised Imran to hold a meeting with then foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi and the foreign secretary.

“Shah Mahmood Qureshi will read out that letter and whatever he reads out will be converted into a copy. I will then make minutes that the foreign secretary has prepared this,” the voice believed to be that of Azam said.

“But its analysis will have to be conducted here. We will carry out the analysis and convert it into minutes as we want it to become [part of] the office record,” he allegedly added.

Azam purportedly elaborated that they needed to do this so that the matter was on the record.

Express Tribune

 

[MenInG]

Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif on Friday, while commenting on a new damning audio leak allegedly featuring Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) chairman and deposed premier Imran Khan, said that it had “totally busted the narrative” whereby the incumbent government was a “product of conspiracy”.

“Imran Niazi wasted five months of the nation by concocting lies and propaganda about his successor government, however, his own audio leaks exposed his fraudulence,” said PM Shehbaz in his address at the foundation-stone laying ceremony of Bara Kahu Bypass project.
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Imran Khan “called the politicians as traitors, however, in reality, it was he who betrayed the nation”, added the PM

“Imran’s lies about an ‘imported government’ are in fact a conspiracy against the entire nation,” he said, stressing the need for people to understand the reality.

PM Shehbaz, who recently represented the country at the forums of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) and the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), said the leaders of some friendly countries during the sideline meetings conveyed to him their annoyance over the irresponsible foreign policy of Imran's government.

Expressing his commitment to “rebuild” and develop the country, the PM said his government was steadfast in dealing with the immense challenges after the previous government pushed the country to the brink of economic collapse.

https://tribune.com.pk/story/237935...ly-busted-imrans-foreign-conspiracy-narrative

 

[MenInG]

PTI chairman Imran Khan on Friday asked the “neutrals” — the term he uses for the military establishment — who was responsible for the security breach at the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO).

Imran’s statement comes after a steady stream of audio recordings surfaced of late, of allegedly candid conversations never meant to be heard by the public, of government figures in the Prime Minister’s Office.

The most recent audios purportedly feature conversations between the PTI chief and his former ministers and principal secretary about a cypher that he has for long presented as evidence of a “foreign conspiracy” to oust him from office.

Last week, a slew of audio recordings of conversations between key government figures — including Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, PML-N leader Maryam Nawaz and some members of the federal cabinet — were released as well raising an all-our national security concern.

“I ask them [neutrals] that the audio leaks of the Prime Minister Office […] if the security of the Prime Minister Office has been breached […] this means that our enemies have our sensitive information,” Imran said in a speech at Edwardes College in Peshawar today. “Who is responsible for it?”

“I ask the protectors today […] if robbers are looting a house, can the guards say that they are neutral? What will the residents say? That the house is being looted but the guards say they are neutral,” Imran said, claiming that Pakistan, too, was being “looted” today.

He went on that if the “neutrals” were only responsible for cracking down on social media users, YouTubers, and television channels, then “who will protect the interests of the country”.

The PTI chief then addressed his supporters and reiterated that people who called themselves apolitical were, “in fact, animals”.

“More than 2,000 years ago Aristotle said that if there is injustice and tyranny in a society, then everyone should stand up against it and be political.”

Imran said that if “we say we are apolitical, then we will be responsible for the injustices in the society”.

Subsequently, the PTI chief said that he was preparing the nation for his call against the “imported and corrupt government”, saying that he would set out against them even if he had to do it alone.

“If I have no fear […] I am not afraid of going to jail or losing my life […] then the nation should also not be scared.

“I am preparing my nation today that I will under no circumstances accept these looters. So wait for my call and when I will give the call, there will be no going back,” Imran added.

Imran responsible for Pakistan’s biggest security breach: Maryam
Meanwhile, in a rebuttal to Imran’s remarks, PML-N vice president Maryam Nawaz said it was the PTI chief who was the “biggest security breach” for PMO.

“The massive security breach you have done sitting in the PMO with your secretary and followers, even the biggest enemies of Pakistan couldn’t compete with it,” she tweeted.

“A foreign-funded evil mind has been playing with the destiny of the country for the past four years and has the nerve to do that same today,” Maryam added.

DAWN

 

[SalimBhai]

Which regime?

 

[JaDed]

The security of Pakistan has been absolutely compromised, posters would be having a field day today had this happened to India to what has happened to Pak since April.

This is insane.

 

[Bewal Express]

The security of Pakistan has been absolutely compromised, posters would be having a field day today had this happened to India to what has happened to Pak since April.

This is insane.

When the guys at the top aren't concerned, it makes no difference. Our elite are compromised, they are loyal to money. The Americans know exactly where they hold their assets and when they get out of line, they are given a gentle reminder. Billo was shut by a quote from Condi Rice's book, which stated that when BB got too mouthy, they told her that when she spoke to Billo about the bank Accounts, they also heard it.

 

[MenInG]

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Vice-Chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi has blamed the federal government for attempting to divert from audio leaks by missing cypher claims, ARY News reported on Friday.

While talking to ARY News, Shah Mahmood Qureshi alleged that the federal government was involved in leaking audio clips of Imran Khan. He added, “The government wants to divert attention from its audio leaks and security lapse of the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO).”

The PTI vice-chairman said, “I am worried how classified documents went missing from PMO. If the classified document [cypher or diplomatic cable] went missing from PMO then it is a big security lapse.”

 

[daytrader]

Second part of cipher leak reveals extent of Imran’s plan

• In latest audio, Imran purportedly tells party bigwigs not to name US at any cost
• Cabinet forms body to find letter ‘missing from PM House’
• Khawaja Asif believes ex-govt’s ‘fabrication’ attracts Article 6

ISLAMABAD: A “second instalment” of former premier Imran Khan’s leaked informal conversation on the US “cipher plot” surfaced, a situation that only got worse when the cabinet found later in the day that the copy of the “letter” received by his then principal secretary had gone missing from PM House.

The new audio, supposedly a continuation of the conversation featured in the previous recording, featured voices believed to belong to PTI leaders Asad Umar and Shah Mahmood Qureshi allegedly strategising the “foreign conspiracy cipher” with the former premier and his then principal secretary Azam Khan — something Defence Minister Khawaja Asif believes attracted Article 6.

In a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday, the cabinet termed the cipher’s disappearance an “unpardonable crime” and constituted a committee to investigate the matter and place responsibility on those to be found involved in the case. The cabinet committee will comprise ministers and representatives from the ruling coalition parties.

“The cipher is missing from the official record of Prime Minister House but is available with the Foreign Office,” Information Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb told Dawn after the meeting.

Asked how the scope of the cabinet committee would differ from that of an inquiry committee formed earlier to investigate the leaks, she said the new body would ascertain how the cipher’s copy received by former principal secretary Azam Khan went missing from Prime Minister House, whereas the previous committee was working to find out how conversations happened within the premises were leaked.

‘Don’t name America’

In the second audio leak, Imran Khan as prime minister was directing his close aides not to take America’s name while talking about the US cipher in public.

A similar audio recording, of a supposed conversation between Imran Khan and Azam Khan discussing the cipher, had surfaced earlier this week as well.

In the fresh audio clip, a voice, believed to be Imran Khan’s, is heard saying: “Shah Jee we have to hold a meeting tomorrow — you and the three of us (Imran, Qureshi and Azam Khan) and the foreign secretary.

In the meeting, “we have to tell them to quietly write the minutes of the meeting. Azam is saying that we should draft the minutes and make photocopies of it,” Imran Khan said.

Here, the second voice, believed to be of Azam Khan, is heard asking, “this cipher arrived on 7th or 8th. It came on 8th”. The person on the other end, purportedly Imran Khan, is heard saying the meeting was held on the 7th.

“We don’t have to name the Americans. Under no circumstances do we have to take the name. So, on this issue please, the name of the country should not come out of anyone. This is very important for all of you,” former premier said. “That which country the letter came from […] I don’t want to hear the name from anyone.”

In turn, the voice, supposedly belonging to Asad Umar, can be heard saying: “Are you saying letter deliberately? This is not [a] letter, it is the meeting’s transcript.”

On this, Imran Khan says that both the letter and the transcript were “the same thing”, adding: “People wouldn’t have understood the transcript. You say [things] like this in your Jalsa.”

In the first audio leak surfaced a couple days ago, the PTI chief directed his principal secretary, “We have to play with it (cipher).”

On the same day, when a reporter asked him about his remarks, Imran Khan said: “Till now I haven’t played from now I will play on it (cipher).”

‘Unforgivable crime’

After Friday’s meeting, a handout issued by Prime Minister House said the cabinet declared that the “theft” of diplomatic cipher records was an “unforgivable crime” and violation of the Official Secrets Act, 1923.

The meeting participants were informed that the record of the receipt of the cipher was available with the relevant department, but the diplomatic cable was missing. “According to the law, this document is the property of Prime Minister House,” the statement said.

“It was necessary under the Constitution, law and rules to investigate the issue in detail and those found responsible be given severe punishment in accordance with the law,” the meeting noted.

As for audios, it was told that they purportedly featuring Imran Khan and his aides exposed “the criminal conspiracy of the former government”, while the cipher was given “fictitious meanings for political mileage and subsequently it was stolen after fraud, forgery and fabrication.”

The cipher in question — based on then envoy Asad Majeed’s meeting with US State Department official Donald Lu — has been at the centre of PTI’s claim that Washington conspired with elements within Islamabad to dislodge Imran Khan from office.

The controversy surrounding the no-confidence motion against Imran Khan took a dramatic turn when he waved a letter at a rally on March 27 — days before his ouster — claiming it contained evidence of a “foreign conspiracy” hatched to topple his government.

The Pentagon and the US State Department have repeatedly rejected the accusations.

Pakistan’s National Security Committee (NSC), which includes all services chiefs as well as the head of the top intelligence agency, met twice on March 31 and on April 22 and found no evidence of a foreign conspiracy.

Meanwhile, the cabinet also strongly condemned the “harassment and intimidation” of Ms Aurangzeb by PTI supporters in London. The meeting noted that there was no room for such behaviour in Islam or even in Western civilisation. The members appreciated “exemplary patience and bravery” shown by the information minister.

Earlier, at a ceremony to lay the foundation stone of the Bhara Kahu Bypass project, Prime Minister Sharif said Imran Khan’s “false narrative” of declaring the incumbent government a “product of conspiracy” had been “totally busted” and urged the nation to distinguish between “truth and fraud”.

Referring to the PTI chief, he said, “Imran Niazi wasted five months of the nation by concocting lies and propaganda about his successor government, but his own audio leaks exposed his fraudulence.”

He said Imran Khan blamed the politicians as traitors, while in reality, it was he who betrayed the nation.

‘Ideal case of Article 6’

Separately, after a meeting with PML-N’s supremo Nawaz Sharif in London, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif told reporters the leaked audio clips have laid bare everything, and that too in Imran Khan’s own words. “He should listen to [the clips] himself and have some shame that how he has put Pakistan’s integrity at stake in his lust for power.”

On possible government action against Imran Khan, the defence minister said it was an “ideal case” of Article 6 of the Constitution, which deals with high treason.

He said the country’s politicians and military dictators did make mistakes in the past 75 years, but the forgery and fraud (allegedly done by Imran Khan) was unprecedented.

Referring to the latest audio clip, he said on the one hand Imran Khan was talking against the United States, but on the other, asking others to refrain from naming the country.

Referring to Mr Khan’s alleged insistence on using the word letter because “people wouldn’t have understood the [word] transcript”, Mr Asif said the PTI chief had underestimated the nation’s collective wisdom and “will pay the price”.

DAWN

 

[MenInG]

The PTI on Saturday filed a petition in the Supreme Court seeking a judicial investigation into the recently surfaced audio recordings — of purported conversations between Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and federal ministers — regarding the resignation of PTI MNAs from the National Assembly.

Last week, a slew of audio recordings of conversations between key government figures — including Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, PML-N leader Maryam Nawaz and some members of the federal cabinet — surfaced online.

In one of the many recordings, a conversation between the prime minister, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar, Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah and Ayaz Sadiq about the resignations of PTI lawmakers from the lower house of parliament.

PTI lawmakers had resigned en masse from the NA on April 11, following the ouster of party chief Imran Khan as the premier through a no-confidence motion.

Then-NA deputy speaker Qasim Suri, in the capacity of the House’s acting speaker, had subsequently accepted the resignations of 123 PTI MNAs. However incumbent NA Speaker Raja Pervaiz Ashraf decided to verify the resignations and on July 27 accepted 11 of them.

The PTI had challenged the move in the IHC on August 1, contesting that it was “unsustainable”.

The IHC, however, dismissed the petition on September 6 and declared that the acceptance of PTI lawmakers’ resignations by Suri was unconstitutional.

The PTI had subsequently approached the SC, praying it to set aside the IHC order, terming it “vague, cursory and against the law”.

In the petition filed today, PTI contended that in the recently surfaced audio leaks, PM Shehbaz and federal ministers could be heard discussing a “heinous strategy to outplay the petitioner from the parliamentary politics in the most illegal, unlawful and objectionable manner”.

“The entire discussion revolves around a criminal strategy/conspiracy to affect and target the petitioner through (illegal and unlawful) piecemeal acceptance of the resignations tendered by the members of the National Assembly on the 11th day of April 2022, belonging to the petitioner party.”

It stated that the incumbent NA speaker and the NA secretary were involved in the “conspiracy”. PM Shehbaz and federal ministers Rana Sanaullah and Marriyum Aurangzeb have also admitted the “actuality and existence of the referred audio leaks,” it said.

“After the admission from the incumbent office holders, the revelations surfaced through the audio leaks are to be treated as new facts emerged during the pendency of the proceedings before this august court, therefore, request to take judicial notice of the startling revelation deemed most appropriate,” the petition prayed.

Furthermore, it claimed that the prime minister, NA speaker and federal minister had violated their oath. “Criminal proceedings may very graciously be lodged against them,” it said.

In a tweet later in the day, PTI leader Fawad Chaudhry confirmed the development.

He demanded that the recordings should be investigated and that the SC should take a decision on PTI’s piecemeal resignation petition in light of the recordings.

What began as an alleged and potentially embarrassing audio leak seems to have turned into an all-out national security incident as a slew of audio recordings of conversations between key government-linked figures — including Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, PML-N leader Maryam Nawaz and some members of the federal cabinet — were released over the weekend.

The content of the recordings appear to be informal conversations in the PM Office — as opposed to recorded phone conversations.

On Saturday, a recording of PM Shehbaz surfaced where he was discussing with an unidentified official the possibility of facilitating the import of Indian machinery for a power project that was a concern of Maryam Nawaz Sharif’s son-in-law, Raheel.

On Sunday, further recordings surfaced, which were shared on social media by several PTI leaders, concerning former finance minister Miftah Ismail and the resignations of PTI lawmakers from the National Assembly.

One clip purportedly features a conversation between PML-N Vice President Maryam and the premier about Miftah, wherein a voice thought to belong to the former says he “doesn’t know what he is doing” and wishes for the return of PML-N stalwart Ishaq Dar.

A second clip allegedly concerns a conversation between the prime minister, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar, Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah and Ayaz Sadiq about the resignations of PTI lawmakers from the National Assembly.

A third clip purportedly features a conversation between Maryam Nawaz and PM Shehbaz regarding the return of former army chief retired Gen Pervez Musharraf.

PM Shehbaz on Tuesday termed the surfacing of audio leaks a “very serious lapse” and announced that a high-level committee would be constituted to probe the matter.

DAWN

 

[MenInG]

PML-N Vice President Maryam Nawaz has lashed out at PTI Chairman Imran Khan for playing with the country’s national interest, asking him to apologise to the nation for exploiting sensitive diplomatic document, cypher, for his political gains.

“The audio has exposed the ugly game he played with the country. Conspiracy was hatched indeed but it was hatched by Imran Khan himself against the country’s national interest,” she, flanked by other PML-N leaders and federal ministers, said while addressing a press conference in Lahore on Saturday.
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“He did tampering and forgery with a sensitive document... this is a serious matter but I give credit to Asad Umar for saying that this is not a letter but Imran Khan persuade them to turn it into a conspiracy,” she said while referring to the alleged leaked audio conversation between Imran and his aides.

Speaking about reports that the cypher was missing from PM House, Maryam accused the former premier of taking the diplomatic cable away with him. “He should seek apology from the nation for playing with the country’s national interest and waving a fake letter in front of them,” she added.

Calling Imran a ‘mastermind of conspiracies’, the ruling party leader said the former premier severed the country’s ties with friendly countries. “He conspired against the country’s security, its foreign policy and democratic system.”

Speaking about the alleged leaked audio clips of PM Shehbaz Sharif and other government officials, Maryam said either in official or private conversations people would never find anything against the country and the nation.

“We can sacrifice our political interest for the country.”

Maryam also demanded that Imran Khan should be thrown into prison for violating the Constitution and playing with the national interest, saying “he is still a ladla (darling) of someone”.

“Certainly he is not our blue-eyed boy but of someone who is in South Punjab these days… but he too is not sincere with him but using him for his own vested interests,” she remarked.

Speaking at the start of the presser, Finance Minister Ishaq Dar said Imran’s crime was unpardonable and added that government will under its legal duty will take appropriate action against him for “abrogating” the Constitution.

Calling the former premier a ‘conspirator’ who is on a mission to destroy the country, Dar said, “He has already destroyed the country’s economy. All macroeconomic indicators have worsened… he [Imran] pushed the country towards default”.

“Minutes of the meeting are present but cypher is missing… it has been established that Imran violated the Constitution and violated his oath of prime minister,” he added.

The government will be failing its constitutional duty if it did not take appropriate action against the ousted PM. “We will take this matter forward in light of Constitution and law.”

Speaking about economy, the finance minister vowed to reverse the damage caused to economy by the previous PTI-led regime.

“We saved the country from default… currency has started to improve… during the last five days an improvement has been witnessed in the country’s economic indicators.”

Dar said he passed on relief to the people by reducing fuel prices despite challenges.

‘Aggressive strategy’

Meanwhile, the ruling party has decided to adopt an aggressive strategy to counter the PTI’s narrative of foreign conspiracy.

PML-N supremo and former PM Nawaz Sharif, who has been living in London since 2019, has directed his party to robustly inform the public about Imran’s “fake narrative” based on diplomatic cypher, according to the party sources.

The use of diplomatic cable was a “big conspiracy” against the state and Imran’s false narratives should be exposed at all platforms including electronic, print and social media, Nawaz was quoted as saying.

The party insiders added that all federal ministers have been directed to hold press conferences to highlight how Imran’s ‘foreign conspiracy’ narrative damaged the country’s foreign policy with an aim to isolate Pakistan internationally.

All-important meeting

An important meeting of PML-N leaders was held at party president and PM Shehbaz Sharif’s Model Town residence in Lahore to deliberate on ‘missing cypher’ controversy and legal matters pertaining to the return of party supremo Nawaz Sharif from London.

Senior PML-N leaders Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, Ahsan Iqbal, Marriyum Aurangzeb and other leaders attended the meeting, presided over by the premier.

During the meeting, various options were considered to give relief to the inflation-stricken people.

Moreover, the ruling party also discussed options for an in-house change in the Punjab Assembly and upcoming by-elections.

After the meeting, the PML-N leaders held a press conference to brief the media on the decisions.

https://tribune.com.pk/story/237956...m-imran-for-weaving-fake-conspiracy-narrative

 

[Bewal Express]

PML-N Vice President Maryam Nawaz has lashed out at PTI Chairman Imran Khan for playing with the country’s national interest, asking him to apologise to the nation for exploiting sensitive diplomatic document, cypher, for his political gains.

“The audio has exposed the ugly game he played with the country. Conspiracy was hatched indeed but it was hatched by Imran Khan himself against the country’s national interest,” she, flanked by other PML-N leaders and federal ministers, said while addressing a press conference in Lahore on Saturday.
Advertisement

“He did tampering and forgery with a sensitive document... this is a serious matter but I give credit to Asad Umar for saying that this is not a letter but Imran Khan persuade them to turn it into a conspiracy,” she said while referring to the alleged leaked audio conversation between Imran and his aides.

Speaking about reports that the cypher was missing from PM House, Maryam accused the former premier of taking the diplomatic cable away with him. “He should seek apology from the nation for playing with the country’s national interest and waving a fake letter in front of them,” she added.

Calling Imran a ‘mastermind of conspiracies’, the ruling party leader said the former premier severed the country’s ties with friendly countries. “He conspired against the country’s security, its foreign policy and democratic system.”

Speaking about the alleged leaked audio clips of PM Shehbaz Sharif and other government officials, Maryam said either in official or private conversations people would never find anything against the country and the nation.

“We can sacrifice our political interest for the country.”

Maryam also demanded that Imran Khan should be thrown into prison for violating the Constitution and playing with the national interest, saying “he is still a ladla (darling) of someone”.

“Certainly he is not our blue-eyed boy but of someone who is in South Punjab these days… but he too is not sincere with him but using him for his own vested interests,” she remarked.

Speaking at the start of the presser, Finance Minister Ishaq Dar said Imran’s crime was unpardonable and added that government will under its legal duty will take appropriate action against him for “abrogating” the Constitution.

Calling the former premier a ‘conspirator’ who is on a mission to destroy the country, Dar said, “He has already destroyed the country’s economy. All macroeconomic indicators have worsened… he [Imran] pushed the country towards default”.

“Minutes of the meeting are present but cypher is missing… it has been established that Imran violated the Constitution and violated his oath of prime minister,” he added.

The government will be failing its constitutional duty if it did not take appropriate action against the ousted PM. “We will take this matter forward in light of Constitution and law.”

Speaking about economy, the finance minister vowed to reverse the damage caused to economy by the previous PTI-led regime.

“We saved the country from default… currency has started to improve… during the last five days an improvement has been witnessed in the country’s economic indicators.”

Dar said he passed on relief to the people by reducing fuel prices despite challenges.

‘Aggressive strategy’

Meanwhile, the ruling party has decided to adopt an aggressive strategy to counter the PTI’s narrative of foreign conspiracy.

PML-N supremo and former PM Nawaz Sharif, who has been living in London since 2019, has directed his party to robustly inform the public about Imran’s “fake narrative” based on diplomatic cypher, according to the party sources.

The use of diplomatic cable was a “big conspiracy” against the state and Imran’s false narratives should be exposed at all platforms including electronic, print and social media, Nawaz was quoted as saying.

The party insiders added that all federal ministers have been directed to hold press conferences to highlight how Imran’s ‘foreign conspiracy’ narrative damaged the country’s foreign policy with an aim to isolate Pakistan internationally.

All-important meeting

An important meeting of PML-N leaders was held at party president and PM Shehbaz Sharif’s Model Town residence in Lahore to deliberate on ‘missing cypher’ controversy and legal matters pertaining to the return of party supremo Nawaz Sharif from London.

Senior PML-N leaders Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, Ahsan Iqbal, Marriyum Aurangzeb and other leaders attended the meeting, presided over by the premier.

During the meeting, various options were considered to give relief to the inflation-stricken people.

Moreover, the ruling party also discussed options for an in-house change in the Punjab Assembly and upcoming by-elections.

After the meeting, the PML-N leaders held a press conference to brief the media on the decisions.

https://tribune.com.pk/story/237956...m-imran-for-weaving-fake-conspiracy-narrative

Didn't all these losers claim that the cypher didn't exist and now they are claiming its been stolen by IK.

 

[MenInG]

The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) has decided to adopt an aggressive approach to the cipher issue.

According to sources, PML-N supreme leader Nawaz Sharif has directed the party from London to give a strong and aggressive response on the matter.


Nawaz has directed the party to inform the public about the matter and to tell them that this “conspiracy” against the state was a “very big conspiracy”.

He also directed them to expose Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan's “false narrative” on electronic and print media and social media with evidence.

The party supremo has called for a clear stand on the issue at the government and party level while highlighting that an attempt was made to isolate Pakistan on the diplomatic front.

Party officials and federal ministers have been directed to hold regular press conferences on the “false story”.

Based on the instructions of the PML-N leader, the party has started preparing an action plan on the issue.

PML-N Vice President Maryam Nawaz and other senior party leaders will also hold an important press conference on the issue.

Sources said that Maryam will give a strong and aggressive response to the cipher on the direction of the party leader.

Nawaz Sharif’s return

On Saturday, the ruling party held an important meeting under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, wherein they discussed the cipher and the return of the party supremo to the country.

According to Express News, the participants of the meeting discussed various options to give relief to the people from inflation.

They also consulted on the organisation of PML-N, and the constitutional and legal issues regarding by-elections in Punjab.

Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, Ahsan Iqbal, Marriyum Aurangzeb and other leaders participated in the meeting.

Express Tribune

 

[MenInG]

The cabinet has formally given the go-ahead for holding an inquiry into the audio leaks purportedly featuring PTI Chairman Imran Khan and his party leaders, it emerged on Sunday.

The cabinet had on Friday suggested that legal action could be taken against the former prime minister and his party leaders after a steady stream of audio recordings surfaced of late, of allegedly candid conversations of Imran and his aides about a cypher that the PTI chief has for long presented as evidence of a “foreign conspiracy” to oust him from the top office.

According to Cabinet Division documents, which Dawn.com has seen, the meeting had constituted on Friday a sub-committee “to deliberate and recommend actions regarding the conversation of the former Prime Minister Imran Khan, his political associates and the then secretary to the PM, available on the internet regarding the cypher message received from Parep Washington (Cypher No. 1-0678 dated March 7, 2022)”.

“Therefore, the apex investigation agency (FIA) may be directed to inquire into the matter by constituting a team of senior officers, which may co-opt officers/officials from other intelligence agencies for the purpose, and to proceed further against the perpetrators in accordance with the law.”

DAWN

 

[Bewal Express]

The cabinet has formally given the go-ahead for holding an inquiry into the audio leaks purportedly featuring PTI Chairman Imran Khan and his party leaders, it emerged on Sunday.

The cabinet had on Friday suggested that legal action could be taken against the former prime minister and his party leaders after a steady stream of audio recordings surfaced of late, of allegedly candid conversations of Imran and his aides about a cypher that the PTI chief has for long presented as evidence of a “foreign conspiracy” to oust him from the top office.

According to Cabinet Division documents, which Dawn.com has seen, the meeting had constituted on Friday a sub-committee “to deliberate and recommend actions regarding the conversation of the former Prime Minister Imran Khan, his political associates and the then secretary to the PM, available on the internet regarding the cypher message received from Parep Washington (Cypher No. 1-0678 dated March 7, 2022)”.

“Therefore, the apex investigation agency (FIA) may be directed to inquire into the matter by constituting a team of senior officers, which may co-opt officers/officials from other intelligence agencies for the purpose, and to proceed further against the perpetrators in accordance with the law.”

DAWN

Shouldn't the haedline be the cabinet apologises to IK and says the cypher is real

 

[daytrader]

Maryam gives new life to cipher: Imran
Imran Khan thanked the people of Taxila for attending the public gathering in large numbers

TAXILA: Former premier and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan said Sunday that PMLN Vice-President Maryam Nawaz has given a new life to the cipher.

He was addressing a mammoth public gathering in connection with the anti-government movement. In his initial remarks, Imran Khan thanked the people of Taxila for attending the public gathering in large numbers. “Taxila has never witnessed such a big participation of women in any public gathering.”

He praised PTI leader Ghulam Sarwar Khan for firmly standing with him in difficult times. He added that Ghulam Sarwar Khan did not change his loyalty when consciences were being sold.

Imran Khan challenged the rulers to arrest him instead of giving threats. “This is the movement of real freedom and we are ready to face jails. I am ready to go to jail and my nation as well. We are not afraid of jail.”

He said the nation was ready to give sacrifices for real freedom. Regarding the cipher issue, the PTI chief said, “The copies of the cipher were sent to the National Security Committee, National Assembly, chief justice and the president. They [current rulers] had termed the cipher a lie.”

“I want to thank Maryam Nawaz for giving a new life to the cipher issue. I want to thank you for proving my statements [regarding the cipher] true.” “They staged a new drama now that the cipher is missing. Maryam Bibi! The cipher is not missing but you should ask the foreign ministry as the copy of cipher is still there. The master copy of the cipher is still present in the Foreign Office (FO).”

The PTI chief censured the incumbent government over the skyrocketing inflation and fuel prices. He predicted that gas prices will be increased up to 250 percent in the winter season. He blamed the rulers for coming into power to get their corruption cases quashed. He said the incumbent rulers had amended laws to get legal relief for continuing corrupt practices. He once again alleged that the rulers received another NRO after they had been given an NRO by former military ruler Pervez Musharraf in 2007.

Imran further alleged that the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) was acting like a servant of the present rulers. He added that they could not defeat the PTI in fair and free elections. He challenged Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah to get ready for the upcoming PTI protest as he was giving final touches to his preparations. “I knew about their plan but they are completely unaware of mine. I am preparing for it and I will suddenly give you a call. You have to be prepared.”

The News PK

 

[Bewal Express]

Nani told everyone IK is a liar and today she is claiming that he stole it. Is the witch just dumb or acting dumb

 

[JaDed]

Nani told everyone IK is a liar and today she is claiming that he stole it. Is the witch just dumb or acting dumb

With 100 statements coming out a week from Pakistan on top of the disastrous floods no one can keep count of who said what anymore.

I was listening to NPR in the morning and how Pakistanis themselves are figuring out and helping each other with boats when Lakes out of nowhere are getting formed.

Few of them blamed government and Army surprisingly.

 

[Bewal Express]

With 100 statements coming out a week from Pakistan on top of the disastrous floods no one can keep count of who said what anymore.

I was listening to NPR in the morning and how Pakistanis themselves are figuring out and helping each other with boats when Lakes out of nowhere are getting formed.

Few of them blamed government and Army surprisingly.

But we know. The crooked witch told everyone that IK made up the cypher and then last week,she said he stole it. Any women of ghairat would have apologised for her lies and gone into her shell. She tells more lies.

As far as the floods are concerned,parts of Sindh are under water but to the waderas these aren't human beings they are worthless .... with no value. Billlo has been everywhere except where he should be. AZ sent a tweet for the Queens death but no time to get his govt organised. Journalists like IRK have done more than these thugs

 

[MenInG]

The federal government Tuesday formed a high-powered committee led by Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah to probe the audio leaks featuring candid conversations between key government figures, ARY News reported.

According to the notification issued by the Cabinet Division, Director-General of the Inter-Services Intelligence (DG ISI) and Intelligence Bureau (DG IB) have been included in the 12-member committee.

The committee also includes representatives from Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), National Telecommunication and Information Security Board’s secretary.

 

[Bewal Express]

The federal government Tuesday formed a high-powered committee led by Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah to probe the audio leaks featuring candid conversations between key government figures, ARY News reported.

According to the notification issued by the Cabinet Division, Director-General of the Inter-Services Intelligence (DG ISI) and Intelligence Bureau (DG IB) have been included in the 12-member committee.

The committee also includes representatives from Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), National Telecommunication and Information Security Board’s secretary.

Another committee? There is a committee for everything under this set of crooks

 

[MenInG]

A week after a leaked audio recording of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders was released, another one surfaced on Friday purportedly featuring party chief Imran Khan talking about 'buying' MNAs.

In the 0.45-second audio, a voice attributed to the former prime minister can be heard and he is apparently talking about 'horse-trading' - a political practice involving 'buying' MNAs before crucial votes in the assembly.
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The audio starts with Imran purportedly stating “don’t think everything is over", a possible reference to the vote of no confidence in March this year.

"From this point onwards, the next 48 hours is a long long time. Plenty of things are happening and I am also making some moves which we can't disclose to the public," says the voice attributed to the PTI chief.

“I am buying five [MNAs], I have five [MNAs],” the voice believed to be of Imran's states.

"Those five are important. Tell him, if he can secure five more, we will have a total of ten. The game will be in our hands.”

Towards the end of the audio, Imran can be heard saying that the nation is alarmed at the moment and wants “us” to win in any way.

“Nobody should worry and think if this is right or wrong, whatever tactic it is. Breaking even a single [MNA] will make a big difference,” the voice attributed to the PTI chief instructs party members.

Last week, a leaked audio recording of PTI leaders was released purportedly featuring party leaders Asad Umar and Shah Mahmood Qureshi discussing the much-touted “threat cipher” with Imran Khan and ex-principal secretary – ratcheting up the controversy around the steady drip of damning leaks allegedly offering a glimpse of the inside story.

The 1.09-minute-long audio emerged on social media and featured a conversation purportedly between Imran Khan, Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Asad Umar and Azam about a strategy to set the stage for a narrative around the Cablegate affair.

In May this year, the former prime minister had urged the Supreme Court to take action against ‘horse-trading’.

“What example are we setting for our coming generation that public representatives were sold like goats and sheeps,” Imran said in an interview with a private TV channel.

Imran further stated he believed if the apex court did not take action against ‘horse-trading’ then it would put the country’s future at stake.

 

[MenInG]

Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah on Friday insisted that no internal or external agency was involved in the security breach at the Prime Minister’s Office that led to audio leaks, saying the probe was pointing toward “individuals” who could be involved in hacking and leaking of private conversations at the PMO.

The statement from the minister comes hours after yet another audio clip went viral on social media today, the third featuring former prime minister Imran Khan. This one centres on “buying five” and a “numbers game”.

 

[MenInG]

Yet another alleged audio of former prime minister Imran Khan was leaked to social media on Friday, the latest in a series of recordings purportedly featuring the PTI chief talking about the cipher with PTI leaders Shireen Mazari and Asad Umar.

The audio — slightly longer than a minute — is the second that was released in a day featuring the PTI chairman. In a rally this afternoon, Imran claimed the PML-N was behind a “new game of fake audios”.

In the latest clip, the trio are discussing the cipher and allegedly strategising on how to “play it up in the public”.

At the start of the audio, the voice believed to be of Umar is heard saying: “Another point is in hindsight that whatever we are doing now should have been done at least ten days ago.”

DAWN

 

[MenInG]

PTI chairman and former prime minister Imran Khan on Friday alleged that the PML-N had “started a new game” of fake audios, saying that it was one of the party’s “specialties”.

“Maryam Nawaz has made all these fake audios, but remember: nowadays, it is not difficult to make such deepfake videos and we can do the same,” Imran said at a rally in Mianwali today.

Imran’s claim comes hours after a third audio recording surfaced on social media, purportedly featuring the PTI chief talking about horse-trading in parliament. A fourth clip later surfaced on social media, in which he can be allegedly heard discussing the cipher with Asad Umar and Shireen Mazari.

A steady stream of audio recordings have surfaced of late, allegedly featuring the leadership of the PTI and PML-N holding informal conversations never meant to be heard by the public.


Previous audio clips featured purported conversations between the PTI chief and his former ministers and principal secretary about a cipher that he has for long presented as evidence of a “foreign conspiracy” to oust him from office.

Last month, a slew of audio recordings of conversations between key government figures — including Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, PML-N leader Maryam Nawaz and some members of the federal cabinet — were released as well, triggering alarm bells with regard to national security.

Neither the PML-N nor the PTI had denied the contents of the audios, but Imran’s deepfake claim today is the first time the party has attempted to challenge the authenticity of the audios.

In the evening, PTI’s former foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi also characterised the audios as “fake”.

However, in his speech, Imran also called the audio leaks from the Prime Minister’s Office a “grave security concern”, saying that it was a “matter of worry” that the phone lines of the prime minister were being tapped.

“I ask our intelligence agencies […] your job is to protect the PM Office and if all these things are leaked, this your responsibility. You should understand [this] instead of threatening people and [indulging in] political engineering.”

Tape featuring ‘four people’
Going on, Imran said that he had decided to “sacrifice my life” for the freedom of the country. “They are trying to scare us by threatening to throw us in jail.

“Now, I will start a Jail Bharo Tehreek (fill prisons movement). There are millions ready to go to jail, don’t try to scare us,” he asserted.

Talking about another “game played by the government”, the PTI chief claimed that PML-N leaders Marriyum Aurangzeb and Javed Latif had accused him of blasphemy and ran programmes about it on national television.

“There are four people sitting behind closed doors — who planned to kill me — they have now decided to blame me for blasphemy so that someone kills me.

“I want to tell them today that I have made a tape and if something happens to me, that tape will be released to reveal their identities,” Imran warned, adding that those “four people” won’t be forgiven by the nation.

‘Azadi March’
The PTI chairman then asked them to prepare for the Azadi March, stressed that his planning for the protest this time was well-thought.

“The march on Islamabad is just one part of it and the Kaptaan is planning other things that no one has ever seen before,” he avowed.

Addressing Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah, Imran said: “You and your handlers can prepare, but remember the Kaptaan will scuttle all your plans.

“You can’t stop us now, you will have to hold elections.”

He also said that even though the coalition government had gathered on one side with Chief Election Commissioner Sikander Sultan Raja, they all cannot beat the PTI, “even if they try to rig elections”.

“The Kaptaan standing before you is the man who went to India and defeated them on their home ground,” Imran added.

DAWN

 

[MenInG]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-partner="tweetdeck"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Latest audio leak exposes the hypocrisy of Imran Niazi. Someone who does not tire of lecturing nation on morality is himself blantantly involved in immoral horse trading. His fraudulent nature is being exposed every day. Niazi's anti-state actions make him unfit for high office.</p>— Shehbaz Sharif (@CMShehbaz) <a href="https://twitter.com/CMShehbaz/status/1578365760225042433?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 7, 2022</a></blockquote>
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[MenInG]

Federal Minister for Defence Khawaja Muhammad Asif has said that two audio clips that were leaked on Friday have brought the truth before the public, though the PML-N leadership already knew that PTI chairman always tells lies.

Speaking to the media here on Saturday, the PML-N stalwart said that Imran Khan was talking about buying and selling parliamentarians in one of the audio leaks. He said the deposed prime minister could get the audios audited forensically if he is not convinced with their authenticity.

The federal minister said that before the 2018 elections, Imran made promises to the people to give them 10 million jobs and five million houses. “He contested the election on this basis. However, none of those promises were fulfilled by former prime minister,” he added.

Asif said that Imran should tell the nation which of his promises and narratives had been fulfilled thus far, adding that now his narratives of ‘imported government’ and horse-trading had also been exposed.

The minister said that Imran Khan’s narratives and his ‘lies’ showed that he is not loyal with the country and the public.

“Nobody knows what that person’s [Imran] intentions were, but now the nation should be thankful to Allah Almighty that the PTI chief has been exposed before the nation,” he remarked, adding that the narratives of external conspiracy and the cipher have also been exposed now.

The federal minister said that Azam Khan was asked where that cipher was, and he said “I don’t know”.

The narrative of ‘real freedom’ has also been exposed through Friday’s audio leak, Asif said. “They are talking about extending the tenure of the army chief keeping in mind what is to happen in March and April,” the senior politician maintained.

Imran Khan would not find any place to hide his face in coming days, the federal minister claimed and furthered the 190 million pounds that Britain had sent belonged to the Pakistani government, but Imran Khan credited it to a business tycoon’s liability account.

He regretted that no PTI leader, including the party chairman, ever visited the flood victims, maintaining that the national interest should be given priority over personal interest. Asif said that Pakistani forces had shown great performance against terrorism and sacrificed their lives for the establishment of law and order.

Imran Khan had said that ‘neutrals’ were animals and he also termed them Mir Jafar and Mir Sadiq, which was regrettable, the minister added.

Khawaja Asif said that party supremo Nawaz Sharif’s sacrifices for the country were countless, adding that the three-time prime minister would soon return home.

Commenting on Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah’s arrest warrant, the defence minister said that the warrant had been issued by the anti-corruption establishment of Punjab, “but we have bravely fought the cases filed against us earlier and we will continue doing so… we are not scared of the Punjab government”.

Express Tribune

 

[MenInG]

Senior PTI leader Fawad Chaudhry on Sunday accused the judiciary of turning a blind eye to the sequence of audio leaks involving political leaders, adding that perhaps state institutions would spring into action only if the judges’ own phones were to get tapped.

The audio clips released on Friday raised the number of clips allegedly featuring the PTI chairman and other party leaders to four. Of the total clips, three centre on the cipher, and one on alleged horsetrading.

Earlier this month, the cabinet had formally given the go-ahead to hold an inquiry into the leaks.

Addressing a press conference today, Fawad said the judges of the Supreme Court and high courts seemed to not care about private conversations at the Prime Minister House being leaked.

“Judiciary is busy in its infighting over appointment of judges,” the PTI leader said, demanding that elements behind the leaks must be exposed.

“Are we making a mockery of our country? Who is leaking this and who will be answerable for this?” he questioned.

The PTI leader said the prime minister’s office was the topmost position in the country, adding that “if conversations of that level are being leaked, then what kind of atomic power should we consider ourselves?”

He wondered if the institutions tasked with protecting the PM Office should be ashamed at what is happening in the country.

Fawad said that for the stability of the country it was imperative that “un-elected institutions must respect elected offices.”

He lauded Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa’s recent statement wherein he called for the respect of democratic institutions. However, the PTI leader said the “practical implementation” was important in this regard.

Islamabad march just one part of larger ‘Haqeeqi Azadi’ movement
Talking about the PTI’s planned march towards Islamabad, Fawad said that it will be just one part of the party’s larger “Haqeeqi Azadi” (actual independence) movement.

The march will be a combination of multiple events and their details will be made public very soon, the former information minister said.

He underlined that the man purpose of the march will be to restore public respect, insisting that “it will be a big political event.”

Meanwhile, he urged PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif to bring to light the details of “NRO 2022” allegedly given to his party. “We are already seeing the results of what happened with this country.”

He also warned of strong reaction from his party if attempts were made to “disrupt” the peace in Karachi.

DAWN

 

[MenInG]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-partner="tweetdeck"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">The AudioLeaks are a serious breach of national security as they call into question the entire security of the PMO, PMH. As PM my secure line at my residence was also bugged. We intend to go to Court to estab authenticity of Leaks & then form JIT to investigate which Intel agency</p>— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ImranKhanPTI/status/1579409620090904576?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 10, 2022</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-partner="tweetdeck"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">is responsible for the bugging & who is leaking out the audios many of which are edited/doctored. This is critical bec sensitive security issues are & have been illegally recorded & subsequently hacked, implying confidentiality of Pak's national security has been exposed globally</p>— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ImranKhanPTI/status/1579409622603280385?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 10, 2022</a></blockquote>
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[MenInG]

PTI chief Imran Khan filed a plea in the Supreme Court on Thursday, seeking the formation of a joint investigation team (JIT) or a judicial commission to probe the “illegal” surveillance, recording and release of data, including audio recordings, from the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO).

A series of audio recordings have surfaced of late, allegedly featuring the leadership of the PTI and PML-N holding informal conversations never meant to be heard by the public.

Imran, who is among those purportedly featured in the controversial audio clips, had said earlier this month that his party would approach courts to establish the “authenticity” of the recently leaked audio tapes and have a JIT constituted to bring to light those responsible for the bugging of the PMO.

In his petition filed today, the former prime minister moved the apex court for the formation of a JIT or judicial commission “for undertaking a detailed probe and investigation into the illegal surveillance, recording, retention, custody and release/leaking of the surveillance data, with directions to determine the authenticity of the audio leaks and to identify and bring to task and punish the persons responsible for authorising and conducting the illegal surveillance, and the collection and subsequent release of the surveillance data, including the audio leaks”.


He also urged the court to issue a continuing mandamus — a judicial writ issued as a command to an inferior court or ordering a person to perform a public or statutory duty — “to supervise the whole process so as to ensure that the JIT or the commission completes its task in a satisfactory manner, the illegal surveillance is put to a permanent end, the surveillance data is identified, retrieved, secured and then destroyed, if need be, and appropriate action taken against the culprits”.

Imran further requested the court to declare the “illegal surveillance of the PMO and PMH (Prime Minister’s House) and the release of surveillance data, especially through the audio leaks, unconstitutional and in violation of law”.

He also sought instructions for the government and relevant agencies to take steps for preventing the release, publication, dissemination, sharing, broadcast and spread of any of the surveillance data, including the further use of audio leaks.

The Federation of Pakistan, Intelligence Bureau, Federal Investigation Agency and Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority have been nominated as respondents in the plea.

Leaks reveal massive breach in security at PM Office
Imran’s petition has been filed nearly a month after the first audio recording linked to the PMO surfaced in September.

What began as an alleged and potentially embarrassing audio leak seems to have turned into an all-out national security incident as a slew of audio recordings of conversations between key government figures — including Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, PML-N leader Maryam Nawaz and some members of the federal cabinet — were released last month.

The content of the recordings appear to be informal conversations in the PM Office — as opposed to recorded phone conversations.

First, a recording of PM Shehbaz surfaced where he was discussing with an unidentified official the possibility of facilitating the import of Indian machinery for a power project that was a concern of Maryam Nawaz Sharif’s son-in-law, Raheel.

Further recordings surfaced a day later, which were shared on social media by several PTI leaders, concerning former finance minister Miftah Ismail and the resignations of PTI lawmakers from the National Assembly.

One clip purportedly features a conversation between PML-N Vice President Maryam and the premier about Miftah, wherein a voice thought to belong to the former says he “doesn’t know what he is doing” and wishes for the return of PML-N stalwart Ishaq Dar.

A second clip allegedly concerns a conversation between the prime minister, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar, Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah and Ayaz Sadiq about the resignations of PTI lawmakers from the National Assembly.

A third clip purportedly features a conversation between Maryam Nawaz and PM Shehbaz regarding the return of former army chief retired Gen Pervez Musharraf.

It followed an audio clip purportedly revealing a conversation between former PM Imran and then-principal secretary Azam Khan about the cipher — shared by Asad Majeed, the then envoy to the US — which Imran has used to peddle his foreign conspiracy narrative.

In the clip, the former prime minister allegedly tells Azam to “play up” the cipher and turn it into a foreign plot to oust his government but adds that there is no need to name any country.

Later, another clip surfaced — supposedly a continuation of the conversation in the previous recording — purportedly featuring PTI leaders Asad Umar and Shah Mahmood Qureshi discussing the “foreign conspiracy” cipher with the former premier and ex-principal secretary.

Then, yet another audio clip surfaced, purportedly of Imran, discussing “buying votes”, following by another recording purportedly featuring the PTI chief talking about the cipher with PTI leaders Shireen Mazari and Asad Umar.

More recently on last Thursday, another recording, purportedly of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, surfaced in which a voice believed to be of the premier was heard discussing the appointment of his special assistants.

PM Shehbaz has termed the surfacing of audio leaks a “very serious lapse” and announced that a high-level committee would be constituted to probe the matter.

 

[MenInG]

Countering disinformation'

In a separate development, the United States said that it would continue to counter disinformation with information.

While commenting on Imran Khan's persistent claim of a US conspiracy to topple his government, State Department Spokesperson Ned Price said: "What we can do is counter disinformation, misinformation with information."

Mr Price, who was addressing a daily news briefing in Washington, said the State Department had rejected such claims "many times" from this podium as there's no truth to these allegations.

"We won't let propaganda, we won't let misinformation or disinformation get in the way of an important bilateral relation, including our valued bilateral partnership with Pakistan," he reiterated.

Responding to another question, Mr Price noted that general elections in Pakistan had not yet been announced, but "we support the peaceful holding of constitutional and democratic elections, not just in Pakistan but around the world. These are issues that we discuss with all of our partners around the world."

DAWN

 

[daytrader]

FIA summons Imran on Thursday in cipher audio probe
The FIA has summoned Imran Khan to appear before the FIA teams on Thursday (3rd November) in Rawalpindi and on Monday (7th November)

SLAMABAD: The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has summoned PTI Chairman Imran Khan to appear before the FIA teams on Thursday (3rd November) in Rawalpindi and on Monday (7th November), sources in FIA Headquarters, Islamabad, said. Meanwhile, PTI Vice Chairman Shah Mehmood Qureshi didn’t show up at the FIA Headquarters on 1st November in connection with the cipher audio probe, sources of FIA said.

Former principal secretary to the former PM Imran Khan didn’t appear in the same case on his third notice. Now the people engaged in the investigation of cipher audio case would decide about the next legal step.

The News PK

 

[Bewal Express]

FIA summons Imran on Thursday in cipher audio probe
The FIA has summoned Imran Khan to appear before the FIA teams on Thursday (3rd November) in Rawalpindi and on Monday (7th November)

SLAMABAD: The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has summoned PTI Chairman Imran Khan to appear before the FIA teams on Thursday (3rd November) in Rawalpindi and on Monday (7th November), sources in FIA Headquarters, Islamabad, said. Meanwhile, PTI Vice Chairman Shah Mehmood Qureshi didn’t show up at the FIA Headquarters on 1st November in connection with the cipher audio probe, sources of FIA said.

Former principal secretary to the former PM Imran Khan didn’t appear in the same case on his third notice. Now the people engaged in the investigation of cipher audio case would decide about the next legal step.

The News PK

The FIA wasting peoples time. Do these clowns not know that the Cypher is way above their pay grade. Maybe call in Nani ask why other countries not sending us cyphers

 

[MenInG]

Information Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb said on Monday that former prime minister Imran Khan will have to provide an answer for the apparent change in his narrative regarding a foreign conspiracy being behind his ouster.

In an interview with British newspaper Financial Times, Imran — who has repeatedly claimed that a US-backed conspiracy was behind his ouster in April — said he no longer “blamed” the US administration for his removal from power.

The PTI chief also said he wanted a “dignified” relationship between Washington and Islamabad.

“As far as I’m concerned it is over, it’s behind me,” the newspaper quoted Imran as saying.


The information minister, in a series of tweets on Monday, addressed Imran and said that putting the matter behind him would not suffice.

“You will have to give an answer for the narrative on the basis of which lies and chaos were spread in the country,” she said, adding that withdrawing the claims without giving an explanation would not be enough.

“Today is a question mark for all those who believed what Imran said.”

Lambasting Imran for “playing with national interest”, the information czar said the former PM cannot get rid of all the accusations by saying “it’s behind me”.

“After destroying the country with his lies, Imran is now telling everyone to forget the US conspiracy narrative,” she said.

“Does Imran think his supporters are sheep and goats?”

The PML-N minister said the PTI chief is backtracking from his narrative of US conspiracy, imported government and the regime change operation because it never existed in the first place.

“Today, Imran Khan has given up on his narrative of imported government and regime change,” Marriyum added, saying that the real face of the party’s so-called Haqeeqi Azaadi had been “completely exposed”.

The information minister accused Imran of putting the country’s foreign relations in grave danger for the sake of power.

“Imran played a dirty game with national interests in his lust for power. He pulled off tricks and put the country and its people at stake. After teaching lies to the nation, Imran now says that the US conspiracy is over.”

She questioned how Imran could tell everyone to leave the US conspiracy narrative behind when he had kept appealing to the Supreme Court to take notice of it.

Meanwhile, Climate Change Minister Sherry Rehman termed Imran’s recent claims as the “mother of all U-turns”.

Cablegate
Following his ouster through a no-confidence vote in the National Assembly, Imran had dismissed the Shehbaz government, terming it “imported”.

The former PM said that the no-confidence move against him was part of a foreign conspiracy, claiming that the cable received from the ambassador on March 7, a day before the opposition officially filed the no-trust move against him, was evidence of the conspiracy.

Imran claimed that the cable showed Pakistan was threatened by a US diplomat who said the country would have to face consequences if he was not removed via the no-trust motion, which had not even been filed at the time.

It was on the basis of this cable that former National Assembly deputy speaker Qasim Suri saw as evidence of a conspiracy to oust Imran and ruled to dismiss the no-trust move against the then premier on April 3, terming the motion contradictory to Article 5 of the Constitution, which mandates loyalty to the state for all citizens.

Suri’s ruling was subsequently voided by the Supreme Court and voting on the no-trust resolution finally took place on April 10, as a result of which Imran was removed as prime minister.

The issue was also raised at two separate meetings of the National Security Committee. In the second meeting, chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, the NSC had explicitly stated there was no foreign conspiracy to topple Imran’s government.

Despite this, Imran has persisted in blaming a foreign conspiracy for his government’s ouster and also has also spearheaded two long marches aimed at calling early elections in the country, one of which is currently underway.

 

[iRfaN_LA]

Very interesting how this propaganda campaign is being run against IK.

Using words like "Imran blames..." "Imran backtracks ..." "Imran accuses" "Imran claims..."

They are basically using the highest level of propaganda machines to build a narrative against the man and it is failing massively.

 

[SalimBhai]

Very interesting how this propaganda campaign is being run against IK.

Using words like "Imran blames..." "Imran backtracks ..." "Imran accuses" "Imran claims..."

They are basically using the highest level of propaganda machines to build a narrative against the man and it is failing massively.

But Imran has backtracked on the claim , has he not?

 

[iRfaN_LA]

But Imran has backtracked on the claim , has he not?

He has NOT. Watch his interview. Its completely twisted by Dawn etc. Even IK is saying, they are misusing his words for their own benefit.

 

[SalimBhai]

Just saw the video. Yes he did back track. He just moved the goal post

 

[MenInG]

ISLAMABAD: Treasury members, including two federal ministers, lambasted Pak*istan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan in the National Assem*bly on Monday for “taking a U-turn on the cipher issue”, declaring that the ex-premier would have to pay a “political price” for his “lies and false narrative” regarding the US-backed regime change conspiracy.

The government members, in their lengthy and one-sided speeches on points of order during the lacklustre proceedings, also criticised the PTI chief for making the army chief’s appointment ‘controversial’ and ‘street gossip’ through his public addresses.

“No, it’s not all over. The time has come to grab you from the collar... you will have to pay the political price for playing with the honour and prestige of the nation,” said Defence Minister Khawaja Asif while addressing Mr Khan after taking the floor of the assembly on a point of order when the house met after a two-day recess.

The outburst came a day after Mr Khan’s interview was published in the British newspaper, Financial Times, in which he had reportedly stated he no longer “blames” the US administration for his removal from power in April and that he wanted a “dignified” relationship between Washington and Islamabad.

“As far as I’m concerned, it is over, it’s behind me,” the newspaper had quoted Mr Khan’s comments on the US role in the alleged conspiracy.

The ex-premier’s remarks came as a surprise, as Mr Khan has been campaigning against the alleged US conspiracy since his ouster from power.

He lent strength to his narrative by referring to a cipher that the then Pakistan’s ambassador to the US had sent to Foreign Office after a meeting with Assistant Secretary of State Donald Lu.

Also read: Cablegate: Imran Khan calls for Donald Lu's sacking over his 'sheer arrogance and bad manners'

The defence minister said: “He [Imran] should not be allowed to get off scot-free. He will have to pay the price as per the Constitution and law.”

He added, “You cannot simply run away by giving an interview to a British newspaper and by starting efforts to mend relations with the US through appea*sement.”

He alleged Mr Khan had hired someone on $25,000 salary for lobbying in the US on his behalf. However, the minister alleged, Mr Khan “buried” his narrative of “imported government” on the basis of which he had been running a protest campaign and holding a long march.

The minister recalled that the PTI chief through his allegations against the US had “embarrassed” the entire country and then he wanted the nation to forget that narrative that damaged Pakistan’s foreign relations.

Known for taking U-turns, Mr Khan did not stand by his words for more than a few months or weeks, Mr Asif said, terming the PTI chief’s latest statement a “warning for the whole society”, particularly those who still had trust “in this fraudster”.

While criticising Mr Khan for alleged political victimisation of his opponents during the PTI government, he said the PTI chief used to give direct orders to the director general of Inter-Service Intelligence (ISI) to put his opponents behind bars.

Taking the floor, federal minister Javed Latif urged Speaker Raja Pervaiz Ashraf to give a ruling and stop Mr Khan from talking against the country’s defence institution.

Mr Latif accused Mr Khan of making the army chief’s appointment controversial, something that he said had never happened in the country’s 75-year history.

He also expressed his surprise over another reported statement of Mr Khan that Pakistan’s defence institutions were not independent. He insisted the house must take serious notice of such statements, reminding the house that Pakistan was a nuclear state.

“When he [Imran] was in power, he used to say that they are on the same page,” he said, adding that at that time Mr Khan was getting support from the agencies even during the votes on crucial legislation.

He alleged Mr Khan used to blackmail the institutions, including National Accountability Bureau, when he was in power.

“He [Imran] is using the same political gimmicks, when he is no more in the government, by holding rallies and sit-ins across the country,” he added.

The minister, who holds no portfolio, then wondered why the federal government was not taking any action against the PTI chief despite the fact that the “institution [army]” had itself asked it to take legal action against him for defaming the institutions through false accusations.

“Why are the hands of the federal government tied? One man is continuously speaking and he should be stopped,” Mr Latif said, warning that Mr Khan would further tarnish the image of Pakistan at the international level if he was not held accountable.

PML-N MNAs Chaudhry Faqir Ahmed from Vehari and Qaiser Sheikh from Chiniot also criticised their own government for not taking any action against Mr Khan, warning that the PTI chief would continue to damage the country economically if he was not stopped from doing ‘politics of agitation’.

Before the proceedings were put off till Thursday evening, the National Assembly passed the Qanun-i-Shahadat (Amendment) Bill 2022 and the Publication of the Holy Quran (Elimination of Printing and Recording Errors) (Amendment) Bill 2022.

Published in Dawn, November 15th, 2022

 

[Shariq7]

Just saw the video. Yes he did back track. He just moved the goal post

Backtrack definition: To reverse a position.

IK's position: U.S undersecretary warns Pakistan of dire consequences unless he is removed from power.
IK's words in F.T interview: "...U.S under secretary threatening our ambassador in Washington of dire consequence (for Pakistan) unless I am removed from power."

Doesn't sound like he is reversing his position.

What is your definition of backtracking?

 

[MenInG]

Lahore High Court (LHC) Justice Asjad Javaid Ghural on Tuesday suspended Federal Investigation Agency’s (FIA) summon to PTI chief Imran Khan in ‘cypher audio leak' scandal and sought replies from federal government and other respondents by December 19.

Imran had challenged the FIA’s inquiry into the audio leaks related to the US cypher and its notice issued to him for recording his statement by December 6 (today) 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.

To which Justice Ghural asked whether an inquiry could be initiated without forensic of the audio and whether the circle of the investigation will be expanded or confined only to a few people. The counsel expressing his concern implored the court that they have doubts that the FIR could be registered so the FIA’s notice should be suspended.

Petition

The petitioner, in his petition implored the court that, he was ousted from the government through a well-orchestrated scheme in April this year and the ensuing arbitrary actions and highhandedness of the political opponents who took over the federal government quite clearly manifest political victimisation against him and his party.

Similarly, the incumbent government released and circulated his audios when he was holding the office of the Prime Minister of Pakistan. The first audio, purporting to be a recording of the petitioner’s conversation, was leaked on September 28, 2022. These conversations were made over, what was supposed to be, a secured phone line in the Prime Minister’s office, but have, nonetheless, been intercepted and recorded. It is also clear from these released audio clips that they have been doctored, manipulated, fudged and tampered with, so as to change their content and context and portray the petitioner in a negative light.

The petitioner, therefore, is aggrieved of and dissatisfied with the exercise of power by respondent (FIA) whereby the FIA has illegally, unlawfully, without jurisdiction, with mala fide intention and with ulterior motive, initiated an inquiry, the gist of which relates to the inquiry regarding the alleged conversations of the petitioner, his political associates and the then secretary to the Prime Minister, regarding the “Cypher Message” received from Washington.

Also read: Imran moves LHC against cipher audio leaks inquiry

In pursuance of the said inquiry, the respondent Mian Sabir Hussain, assistant director (Inquiry Team), Federal Investigation Agency has illegally and without lawful authority issued him a notice on November 30, 2022 under section 160 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898 for appearing before the Inquiry Team at the FIA Headquarters on December 6, 2022 at 2 pm.

Petitioner, despite being summoned as a witness through the impugned enquiry notice, is absolutely unclear as to what offence, if any, he is being inquired for. The impugned inquiry notice and earlier notice on the matter are miserably silent with regards to the same.

As per the law of the land, before summoning a witness, the person must be informed of the fact, point, allegation, offence, name of accused, specified matter, if any, concerning the matters in the notice so that the person can furnish such information. However, none of the requirements stated above have been complied with by the FIA in the issuance of the impugned enquiry notice.

The inquiry that has been initiated is beyond the jurisdiction of the FIA as no wrong doing, let alone “illegality”, is apparent on the face of record, especially against the petitioner. It has been initiated with mala fide intention, in bad faith and out of personal motives to hurt the petitioner and support or benefit the political opponents of the petitioner.

He requested the court to declare that the impugned inquiry is without jurisdiction therefore the same be set aside at the earliest and further set aside the impugned enquiry notice. As a consequence thereof quash the impugned enquiry and earlier notice in the interest of justice since no wrong doing whatsoever has been pointed out against the petitioner.

Express Tribune

 

[daytrader]

Cipher audio leak: LHC suspends FIA summons to Imran Khan
The LHC has suspended the FIA's summons to Imran Khan in the cipher audio leak scandal

The summons issued by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan in the cipher audio leak scandal have been suspended by the Lahore High Court.

On Tuesday, the court sought information about the audio leak from the federal government as well as other parties. Imran Khan’s plea was heard by Justice Asjad Javed Gharal. The court later adjourned the hearing till December 19.

Imran Khan, in his petition, had said that the inquiry initiated by the FIA was illegal and without any authority and jurisdiction. He said he was “absolutely unclear” about the offences he had been summoned for.

“The impugned notice served by the FIA is silent about any criminal wrongdoing committed by the petitioner,” the plea read.

Moreover, Khan contended that since the alleged audio leak had already been challenged in the Supreme Court, the FIA inquiry against him had political motives and its purpose was to “arm-twist and harass him”.

He requested the court to declare that “the impugned inquiry is without jurisdiction and void ab initio” and should be dismissed.

The News PK

 

[Cricket Warrior]

Anyone’s audio clip can be leaked next, says Aleema

Aleema Khanum, the sister of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan, has cautioned those who leaked an audio clip, purportedly featuring Bushra Bibi and former PM’s lawyer Latif Khosa, to be mindful of their own business, expressing concern that anyone's audio could be leaked at any given moment.

In the audio clip, Bushra and Khosa could be heard discussing their grievances against Khan's sisters.

The former first lady recalls a recent incident when Khan's sisters raised concerns about the handling of a case related to Khan's safety in Attock jail. She went on to say that the presence of the sisters created complications.

"Tomorrow, it could be anyone's audio leaking... we should worry about our homes as well,” Aleema said while talking to media representatives outside the Islamabad Judicial Complex on Friday.

She said that even the US president was declared ineligible as no one was allowed to breach anyone’s privacy. "Our sense of shame and decency is eroding. Intruding into people's homes is unacceptable, and we must collectively condemn such breaches,” she added.

“First, they tarnished the sanctity of women by breaking the code of chadar and chaar deewari. What will they do next? Dragging women out in the open for public spectacle,” she questioned.

Khan’s sister said that even an audio clip of the mother-in-law of a former chief justice was leaked. “We might be listening to your wife’s [audio clip] next,” she concluded.

Anyone’s audio clip can be leaked next, says Aleema | The Express Tribune

Intruding into people's homes unacceptable, we must collectively condemn such breaches, says Imran’s sister

tribune.com.pk

 

[Bewal Express]

The country has gone to the worst but establishment are still busy recording personal conversations to blackmail people.

 

[The Bald Eagle]

Will name ex-COAS Bajwa, US embassy officials as witnesses in cipher case: Imran Khan

Former Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan on Monday stated that he will include former army chief General (retd) Qamar Javed Bajwa and US embassy officials as witnesses in his defence in the cipher case.

“Will include General Bajwa and US embassy officials as witnesses [in the case]. General Bajwa did everything on Donald Lu’s directives,” claimed Khan during an informal conversation with journalists in Adiala jail during the cipher case hearing.

A special court established under the Official Secrets Act 2023 held an open court hearing in Adiala jail where Imran Khan and Shah Mahmood Qureshi are incarcerated.

The court is conducting the trial afresh after the Islamabad High Court nullified the jail trial on November 21. Both of them were indicted on October 23 but the indictment stood cancelled after the IHC order.

Speaking to the media person today, the former prime minister predicted that his party would win the February 8 polls, adding that he was arrested under a plan.

Khan said he was thankful to those PTI leaders jumping the ship.

He also rejected reports that he held negotiations in jail. In November, PTI President Parvez Elahi claimed that officials of the European Union and the International Monetary Fund routinely visit Imran Khan at Adiala.

He also shared that he did not face any difficulties in jail.

Khan also spoke about the allegations put forward against him by Khawar Maneka — the former husband of his wife Bushra Bibi. He stated that he saw his wife’s face for the first time after their nikkah.

The former prime minister also claimed that Bushra’s sons were being pressurised to give a statement against their mother.

‘PTI in my heart, don’t need a post’​

Meanwhile, Shah Mahmood Qureshi, the co-accused in the cipher case, said that the PTI was in his heart and no one could take it out of there.

“I do not need any post in PTI anymore,” said Qureshi while talking to journalists.

Special court to indict Imran, Qureshi on Dec 12​

The special court hearing the cipher case has set December 12 as the date of indictment for Khan and Qureshi.

The indictment date was set by Judge Abual Hasnat Zulqarnain after both the suspects were provided with the case record during the hearing held in the Adiala jail.

During the hearing, PTI lawyers urged the court not to hand over the record, while the Federal Investigation Agency’s (FIA) special prosecutor asked the court to go ahead.

Today was the second open court hearing after the judge decided to hold the trial in jail due to "serious security risks" brought to light by the prison’s superintendent.

The federal cabinet last week had also approved the summary to hold the jail trial of Khan and Qureshi in the cipher case after it was moved by the Ministry of Law and Justice.

The court had also stated that the proceedings can be attended by anyone who wishes to do so including the journalists.

Despite those orders, only six journalists were allowed to attend the hearing today by the jail authorities.

Ciphergate​

The controversy emerged on March 27, 2022, when Khan — less than a month before his ouster in April 2022 — while addressing a public rally waved a letter before the crowd, claiming that it was a cipher from a foreign nation that had conspired with his political rivals to have PTI government overthrown.

He did not reveal the contents of the letter nor did he mention the name of the nation it came from. But a few days later, he accused the United States of conspiring against him and alleged that Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia Affairs Donald Lu had sought his removal.

The cipher was about former Pakistan ambassador to the US Majeed's meeting with Lu.

The former prime minister, claiming that he was reading contents from the cipher, said that "all will be forgiven for Pakistan if Imran Khan is removed from power".

Then on March 31, the National Security Committee (NSC) took up the matter and decided to issue a "strong demarche" to the US for its "blatant interference in the internal affairs of Pakistan".

Later, after his removal, then-prime minister Shehbaz Sharif convened a meeting of the NSC, which came to the conclusion that it had found no evidence of a foreign conspiracy in the cable.

In the two audio leaks that took the internet by storm and shocked the public after these events, the former prime minister, then-federal minister Asad Umar, and then-principle secretary Azam Khan could allegedly be heard discussing the US cipher and how to use it to their advantage.

On September 30, the federal cabinet took notice of the matter and constituted a committee to probe the contents of the audio leaks.

Source: Geo News

 

[The Bald Eagle]

It would be interesting to note whether the court would summon former coas general (rtd) bajwa and US higher officials as witnesses in cypher case. looks difficult at the moment.

 

[Bewal Express]

It would be interesting to note whether the court would summon former coas general (rtd) bajwa and US higher officials as witnesses in cypher case. looks difficult at the moment.

They wouldnt dare- the Americans arent coming but Bajwa needs to be summoned or their is no fair trial. As i said the mafia are finished and its just a matter of when.

 

[The Bald Eagle]

The special court on Thursday accepted the Federal Investigation Agency’s plea seeking an in-camera trial of former prime minister Imran Khan and ex-foreign minister Shah Mahmood in the cipher case.

It began the cipher trial afresh at the Adiala district jail after the pair were indicted for a second time yesterday, according to reporters allowed to attend the hearing.

The cipher case pertains to a diplomatic document that the FIA’s charge sheet alleges was never returned by Imran. The PTI has long held that the document contained a threat from the United States to oust Imran as prime minister.

Imran and Qureshi were initially indicted in the case on Oct 23. Both had pleaded not guilty. The trial was being held at Adiala Jail and four witnesses had already recorded their statements when the Islamabad High Court (IHC) termed the government’s notification for a jail trial “erroneous” and scrapped the entire proceedings.

The trial was being held at Adiala Jail and four witnesses had already recorded their statements when the Islamabad High Court (IHC) termed the government’s notification for a jail trial “erroneous” and scrapped the entire proceedings.

As a result of the judgment, the special court started fresh proceedings. On Monday, the former premier had challenged the process of his indictment in the cipher case in the IHC, urging it to halt the proceedings till deciding on the petition.​

Source: Dawn News