Privacy breach riles Imran as audio with US congresswoman hits the headlines
Pakistan
Holds a Zoom meeting with Maxine Moore Waters
LAHORE (Dunya News) – In yet another audio which has become the talk of the town, PTI chief Imran Khan can be heard urging US Congresswoman Maxine Moore Waters to voice concern over breach of human rights and the rule of law in Pakistan.
The alleged Zoom meeting audio leak on Saturday has appeared at a time when PTI supremo Imran Khan and the government are at loggerheads over multiple issues, especially violence which erupted after the arrest of Mr Khan in a graft case. The PDM-led government has formed a bench to probe audio leaks in the leadership of SC judge Justice Qazi Faez Isa.
In the audio, Mr Khan can be heard beseeching Ms Waters to speak out for rights violation in Pakistan. He apprised her of the assassination attempt on him, the "best economic indicators" of the country during his tenure, and "unprecedented" human rights violations being committed by the incumbent government.
He urged Ms Waters by saying, "It makes a lot of waves in our country when some like Maxine gives a statement".
Imran says phone tapping a "serious breach of privacy"
Mr Khan said "this is serious breach of privacy guaranteed under Article 14 of the Constitution".
Taking to Twitter, he questioned the terms of reference formed by the federal government and demanded action. "Not only those who illegally retrieve data through unlawful phone tapping and surveillance should be held accountable but those who through fabrication and tampering of different phone calls leak them on social media also need to be held accountable."
— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) May 20, 2023
Human Rights Watch urges government to release all protesters
Human Rights Watch, earlier, urged Pakistani authorities to release all those held for peaceful protest or supporting the political opposition and respect the due process rights of all those detained. "Many have been charged under vague and overbroad laws prohibiting rioting and creating threats to public order," it said.
— Human Rights Watch (@hrw) May 20, 2023
The Pakistani authorities should end their arbitrary arrests of political opposition activists and peaceful protesters,” said Patricia Gossman, associate Asia director at Human Rights Watch. “Anyone committing violence should be appropriately charged and their due process rights respected," she added.
