The federal government has formed a three-member judicial commission to investigate the alleged audio leaks linked to judges.

The judicial commission will probe the audio leaks of the former chief minister of Punjab with a sitting judge of the Supreme Court and a lawyer, according to the notification issued on Saturday. It would also investigate the apparent conversation between the former chief minister and the lawyer related to the appointment of certain benches.

The commission will be led by the senior puisne judge of Supreme Court Justice Qazi Faez Isa and comprising Balochistan High Court Chief Justice Naeem Akhtar Afghan, and Islamabad High Court Chief Justice Aamer Farooq.

Over the past many months, a slew of alleged audio leaks linked to heads of state, former heads, judges, and ex-jurists have surfaced on social media.

But the commission formed on Saturday would look into the recent audio leaks.

The commission is entrusted with the responsibility of investigating whether any violations have occurred in relation to “the administration of justice, the independence of the judiciary, the right to a fair trial, and the equality of citizens”.

“If the stated audios are fake or fabricated, to inquire into and fix responsibility with regards, as to who is making these and recommend action to be taken in this regard; and any matter ancillary and incidental thereto or which the Commission deems fit to inquire into it in the interest of justice,” it added.

The commission will have “all the powers that are granted to it under Pakistani Commissions of the Inquiry Act 2017” while directing executive authorities in the federation and the provinces to act in aid of the commission in the discharge of its functions and to comply with any of its directions.

Information Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb also spoke about this while responding to a query in her press conference on Saturday.

“The commission has been formed to investigate and check, the veracity, and authenticity of these audio leaks,” she said, “it is also formed under the Inquiry Commission Act 2017 to fix the responsibility.

This commission would fix its report and responsibility in 30 days, she said and the need for more time would be looked at as per their demand.

“The commission has been formed to investigate as a question mark was raised on the judiciary and doubts were raised on the system of justice raised after these audio leaks,” she said, adding that such a manner should be followed.