Are the records of the JIT easily accessible?
When the JIT decided to maintain video records of the interrogations, it was presumed that the investigators must have devised a fool proof plan for the security of their records. With top intelligence agencies of the country represented on the investigation body, it was natural to assume that its records would be fully secure. The perception has been belied by the appearance of a photo showing Hussain Nawaz either waiting or being interrogated at the Federal Judicial Academy which serves as the JIT’s office. The photo could not have been made public without somebody who had access to the video providing it to the interested party.
The appearance of the photo has elicited a strong reaction from the PML-N government. It has been maintained that the photo’s leak and its circulation on social media was meant to insult and ridicule the Sharif family and that it constituted a demeaning and a serious breach of investigation rules. Also, that it was a brazen violation of human and legal rights which was absolutely untenable. It has been pointed out that since the JIT is functioning under the supervision of the judiciary, it is the responsibility of the judges to take cognisance of such things which are creating doubts about the working of the JIT.
And who circulated the photo on social media? The PML-N and PTI are accusing each other for releasing the picture to internet trolls. The PTI maintains the PML-N wanted to achieve two objectives through the release. First to create doubts about the neutrality of the JIT and the three member bench of the apex court. Second to create the perception of being victimised. So it used the government machinery to obtain the photo then publicised it. The Interior Ministry has meanwhile clarified that none of its departments has access to the JIT office or its films. In case someone could locate the person who first put the photo on social media, he might succeed in finding the person who committed the original sin.
