IB to investigate PM House for spying devices after controversial audio leaks

IB to investigate PM House for spying devices after controversial audio leaks. Intelligence Bureau (IB) has been ordered to investigate the purported bugging of the Prime Minister’s House after several audio leaks went viral on social media amid reports that a hacker put on sale on the dark web a massive data of recorded conversations not only of Shehbaz Sharif but also of his predecessor, Imran Khan.

This extraordinary breach has set alarm bells ringing as the audio leaks are not only of telephonic conversations. The first such leak, which was uploaded on social media, was a discussion between PM Shehbaz Sharif and his Principal Secretary Dr Tauqeer Shah in which the latter was heard saying that Maryam Nawaz had asked him to facilitate her son-in-law, Raheel Munir, with the import of machinery for a power plant from India.

Media reported that discussion between the two on this matter took place face-to-face, meaning thereby there were some bugging devices installed in the PM House. Dr Shah, in the leaked audio, has been heard saying that the facilitation in import would generate a controversy and the PM, agreeing with him, directed his PS to convey the same to Maryam and that he would also speak with her on this. In addition, Maryam wanted a grid station installed in a housing society owned by Raheel. On this, PM Sharif is heard saying this should be dealt with in a ‘national way.’

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Another leaked clip making rounds on social media is related to Maryam’s complaining to PM Sharif against Finance Minister Miftah Ismail and the way he is running the official business as sky-rocketing inflation has hurt badly the poor segments of society. In one clip, the niece and uncle are discussing deteriorating health conditions of Pervez Musharraf and that the government should not stop him from coming to Pakistan if there is any such move. In yet another clip, there is a deliberation over the acceptance of PTI MNAs’ resignation and seeking advice from Nawaz Sharif on this issue.

This breach has occurred despite the fact that there is a practice of daily search to check if there is any bugging device installed in the PM’s Office or in his residential compound, a source told The News. This search is in line with Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) of the IB, which is the main agency assigned the security of the prime minister, his office and house.