There is an element of grandstanding in PTI Chairman’s petition to the Supreme Court and its call for a joint investigation team (JIT) to inquire into the audioleaks which seem to have plagued the Prime Minister’s Office, with Prime Minister’s House apparently infested, the buildings, both official and private, even the outdoors, by bugs; but there is also an element of concern caused by the government’s apparent reluctance to pursue the matter vigorously. Both the grandstanding and the reluctance may have a common cause. Of course, for the PTI, any stick is good enough to hit the government with, but the fact that the leaks have so far been more harmful to the PTI’s narrative both on the foreign conspiracy behind its ouster and its pristine stand against floor crossing (with one leaked clip showing former PM Imran Khan speaking openly of buying members), may have persuaded the government to act tardily, as fresh revelations cause the PTI more harm than it.
However, though at the kernel of Mr Khan’s petition is the hope that the judiciary will step in once more, and intervene in his favour, there is also the reality that he is not satisfied by the government’s efforts so far, which have included setting up a Cabinet Committee, and a Joint Investigation Team to report to it. A preliminary report has been made, and PM’s House employees removed because of it, but the fact that some of the leaks were made after the JIT’s formation indicates that the hacker is not bothered. Incidentally, it also shows that the hacker is sitting on a mountain of material, from which he, or it, is anxious to release as many excerpts as possible.
It is not for public consumption what measures have been taken to ensure that such leaks are not repeated. However, the public has a right to demand that some public institution, such as a parliamentary committee, is duly briefed by the government about the measures it has taken to prevent a leak, and to handle what has already been leaked. Some information will no doubt be leaked, but it does seem ironic for the government to care about leaks from a parliamentary committee after it has swallowed leaks from the PMO itself.
