SC to hear petitions against Isa-led body on audio leaks today.

ISLAMABAD -- The Supreme Court will commence hearing on Friday (today) on a set of petitions moved to challenge the government-appointed judicial commission in audio leaks, as well as seeking to quash the setting up and proceedings of the commission.

Headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Umar Ata Bandial, a five-judge panel consisting of Justice Ijaz-ul-Ahsan, Justice Munib Akhtar, Justice Syed Hasan Azhar Rizvi and Justice Shahid Waheed will take up a set of four petitions moved by president of the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) Abid Shahid Zuberi, SCBA Secretary Muqtedir Akhtar Shabbir, PTI Chairman Imran Khan and Advocate Riaz Hanif Rahi. These petitions seek to declare the constitution of the audio commission as illegal.

The three-man commission on audio leaks, led by Justice Qazi Faez Isa, will resume its hearing on Saturday in the Supreme Court building.

Both Abid Zuberi and Muqtedir Shabbir filed the petition on Thursday, in which they requested the SC to order the federal government, the inquiry commission, Pemra and PTA to identify persons or entities operating anonymous Twitter accounts/handles. They further requested the court to pass directions to fix responsibility for engaging in the unconstitutional practice of illegal phone tapping in the territory of Pakistan.

Five-judge bench to take up challenges filed by SCBA president and Imran Khan, among others

Likewise, Imran Khan has also pleaded in the petition that the commission should probe the 'powerful elements' behind the audio leaks. These elements allegedly tapped and recorded telephone conversations of citizens, including high-ranking public functionaries.

The SCBA petitions contend that the government or any person, authority, or functionary, whether identified or anonymous, should not conduct surveillance of citizens through phone tapping, phone interception, or any other similar means, except in accordance with the Investigation for Fair Trial Act, 2013.

The petitions also pray before the apex court to...