The Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) government has authorized the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) to tap phones, sparking controversy and sharp reactions from various political circles.
Historically, the PML-N has been vocal against the practice of phone tapping. This stance was scrutinised when an audio leak involving Maryam Nawaz and Pervez Rasheed surfaced, prompting Maryam Nawaz to demand an apology.
Since the PML-N assumed power, the frequency of phone tapping and audio leaks has not diminished. These leaks often target figures such as Imran Khan, Bushra Bibi, and members of the PTI.
A 2022 clip that resurfaced shows Maryam Nawaz calling for an apology over her phone being tapped. Speaking to the media in Lahore, she emphasized that her private conversations are her own business, questioning the ethics and legality of recording a woman’s conversation and then distributing it among government officials and media outlets.
Maryam Nawaz called for an acknowledgement of the wrongful tapping of her phone, rhetorically asking who had the right to invade her privacy. During the discussion, she also reiterated her call for legal action against Imran Khan, implying his guilt in related matters was clear.
Journalist Tariq Mateen encouraged the public to watch the videos, read the official notifications, and express their opinions freely.
Wajahat Samee, reflecting on the situation, shared a past clip of Maryam Nawaz with the comment, “Keep listening, keep being ashamed,” highlighting the irony of the situation given the recent formal permission granted to the ISI for surveillance activities.
