Privacy breach riles Imran as audio with US congresswoman hits the headlines,

LAHORE _ 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.”“[This is] probably one of the most critical times in our history. We have the most bizarre situation going on in this country,” the former premier purportedly told other person in the audio believed to be US congresswoman.In the 1.57 minutes-long audio leak, the PTI chairman briefed the US lawmaker about his ouster from power and subsequent crackdown on his party workers.

“I received three bullets in one assassination attempt. My government was removed by ex-army chief army [General Qamar Javed Bajwa] because the military establishment is very powerful here.”

“He conspired with people who are in power currently and toppled my government,” he alleged in the leaked conversation.

Khan added that his party was facing the “worst crackdown” which, according to him, no democratic party had ever faced in the country’s history.

While requesting Congresswoman Waters to issue a statement in his party’s favour, Khan said: “We would appreciate here because it goes a long way when someone like you Maxine gave a statement.”

“All we want is just the rule of law and Constitution and fundamental rights. We just want a statement highlighting [crackdown] and that would really help us when someone like you Maxine speaks up it makes a lot of waves,” he added.

The alleged audio came in the backdrop of ongoing crackdown on PTI workers and leaders after they resorted to violent protests following party chief Imran Khan’s arrest on May 9 in graft case.

Thousands of party workers and leaders have been arrested for allegedly ransacking and torching public and military installations across the country during the nearly three-day long protests.

At least 10 people were killed and dozens others injured during the riots with civil and military leadership of the country declaring the unprecedented violence as “black chapter” in the country’s history and vowed to try the rioters under Army Act and other relevant laws of the country.

PTI chief Khan has distanced his party from the attacks on defence and government buildings and demanded independent judicial commission to probe the vandalism.