The Supreme Court of Pakistan has issued a stay order, halting the Islamabad High Court’s (IHC) proceedings in the audio leaks case. The decision comes after the federal government appealed against the IHC’s ruling, which prohibited authorities from phone tapping without a legal mechanism.
The IHC had earlier declared that any action of phone tapping without a legal framework was “illegal” and violated citizens’ fundamental rights. However, the federal government argued that this decision has severely impacted the operations of intelligence agencies, including the ISI and IB.
During the hearing, Additional Attorney General Amir Rehman argued that the IHC exceeded its jurisdiction under Article 199 of the Constitution. The Supreme Court accepted this argument and issued notices to the respondents, suspending the IHC’s order until further notice.
The audio leaks case has been a topic of controversy, with various audio recordings surfacing that allegedly feature high-ranking officials and politicians. The IHC had taken suo motu notice of the issue and initiated proceedings, but the Supreme Court’s decision has put a halt to these proceedings.
The Supreme Court’s decision has sparked debate, with some arguing that it undermines the rule of law and citizens’ rights. Others see it as a necessary step to ensure national security and prevent the misuse of phone tapping.
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