Pakistan government leaders’ leaked audio clips raise security concern in the country
The Hindu
Pakistan PM Shahbaz Sharif, several ministers and PML-N leaders are heard talking about Finance Minister Miftah Ismail in some of the purported audio clips
More purported audio clips featuring leaders of Pakistan’s government surfaced on Sunday, raising questions about the security of high-profile places and the meetings held there.
One of the clips involved a conversation among several senior leaders of the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) in the high-security PM House.
Interior minister Rana Sanullah, defence minister Khawaja Asif, law minister Azam Tarar, and minister for economic affairs Ayaz Sadiq can be heard talking about the fate of Finance Minister Miftah Ismail and the resignations of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) lawmakers from the National Assembly.
Another audio clip is purportedly about a conversation between PML-N Vice President Maryam Nawaz and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif about Finance Minister Ismail.
Ms. Maryam who is the daughter of former three-time premier Nawaz Sharif wields a lot of influence in the government and is critical of Mr. Ismail.
“He (Ismail) doesn’t take responsibility […] says strange things on TV which people make fun of him for […] he doesn’t know what he is doing,” she is heard saying in the clip.
“He clearly cut corners,” the voice said to be PM Shehbaz is heard as saying.