Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's House 'debugged' to prevent further audio leaks

“They have conducted a thorough inspection of the building and the team was also monitoring mobile phone data and laptops of employees and officers of the PM House and Office," a media report said.

“A top panel constituted to probe the embarrassing audio leaks from the Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s House has finished combing and debugging the sprawling premises on September 30,” officials said.

The issue of audio leaks hit social media last week, when a taped conversation between Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and his Principal Secretary Tauqeer Shah sent social media into meltdown. Another audio of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan’s conversion with PTI leaders was leaked on Friday.

In the recent leaked audio, three PTI leaders including Asad Umer, Shah Mahmood Qureshi and Azam Khan could be heard talking about the American cypher with Mr. Khan, the party's Chairman. On Wednesday, an audio clip featuring Mr. Khan talking about the alleged conspiracy to topple his government was leaked.

The combing of the premises nestled in the foothills of the Margalla in Islamabad was conducted days after the National Security Committee approved the formation of a high-powered committee to probe the embarrassing audio leaks from the Prime Minister's Office that triggered demands for Prime Minister Sharif's resignation.

“They have conducted a thorough inspection of the building and the team was also monitoring mobile phone data and laptops of employees and officers of the PM House and Office," the Dawn newspaper reported.

The Pakistan government on Thursday said it was taking necessary steps, including changing some standard operating procedures (SOPs) to secure the Prime Minister's House, under which no staff and officers were allowed to take their mobile phone inside the premises. “The phones are collected at the entrance and returned after office hours,” the report said.

Prime Minister Sharif on Tuesday called the controversial audio leaks a serious ‘security lapse’ and said a high-powered inquiry committee would probe into the fiasco. Meanwhile, a cyber security department is being formed at the PM House to be headed by a director general. Waiters and low-ranked staff were under strict watch and their access to Sharif has been restricted.