ISLAMABAD: A federal minister acknowledged this during a news briefing on Thursday. A high-powered committee established to look into the leak of unofficial talks from the Prime Minister’s House is alleged to have scoured and debugged the whole premises.
A source informed Dawn that “they have thoroughly inspected the facility.” The squad was also keeping an eye on the laptops and mobile phone data of the PM House and Office staff and policemen.
A new standard operating procedure (SOP) has been implemented at the PM House under which no staff or officer was permitted to bring their mobile phone inside the building. This followed a series of audio leaks over the past week that also included Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, PML-N leader Maryam Nawaz, and former PM Imran Khan. The insider continued, “The phones are gathered at the entry and returned after office hours.”
In a press conference on Tuesday, PM Sharif described the contentious audio leaks as a severe “security failure” and promised an extensive investigation.
Law minister’s presser
Azam Nazeer Tarar, the law minister, revealed that some SOP for the security of the PM House had been amended during a news conference on Thursday and that state institutions had done an exercise to ensure the PMO’s protection. Additionally, he stated that regulation was urgently needed in the context of contemporary technology, particularly cyber security.
The setting should be such that everyone is completely satisfied with making national decisions in a secure environment since “many sensitive subjects are discussed in significant areas,” he said.
The minister added that discussions on a “cleaning procedure” were ongoing and that the government was considering the next course of action. Basic SOP for important buildings was already in place, and new instructions have been given to make the security measures effective and stop future security breaches, he noted.
He added that the National Security Committee (NSC) meeting held on Wednesday reviewed the issue of audio leaks in detail and established decisions and priorities for the future. “Pakistan is a responsible state, and we have to move forward keeping a balance between state laws and fundamental human rights,” he said.
