ISLAMABAD: Following allegations that the government itself had leaked a photo from Hussain Nawaz`s appearance before the joint investigation team (JIT), the interior ministry clarified on Monday that it had nothing to do with the security of the Federal Judicial Academy (FJA).

The photograph, which appears to be a screen grab from a CCTV feed, shows the PM`s son sitting by himself on the date of his first appearance before the JIT.

The photo`s emergence on social media over the weekend triggered a debate about the motive for the leak, as well as the identity of the person who leaked it. Both the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz and Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf have accused each other of orchestrating the leal(.

On Sunday, Minister of State for Information Marriyum Aurangzeb called it `demeaning and a serious breach of investigation rules`, while the PM`s spokesperson Musadik Malik claimed that the photo was circulated to `humiliate` the family of the prime minister.

On Monday, in an official statement, the Ministry of Interior rejected the allegation that it was responsible for the leak of Hussain`s picture.

A spokesperson for the ministrysaid that only the external security of the FJA rested with the Islamabad Police.

`Islamabad Police or the Interior Ministry has no role in the administrative matters of the academy. The interior ministry and its various departments, including Islamabad Police, don`t have any access to the offices of the JIT, its proceedings or the video recordings thereof,` the spokesperson said.

The statement regretted the way such a sensitive issue, where family of the prime minister was involved, was being politicised.

`If for instance one believes such a logic, then should we hold Islamabad Police responsible for everything that takes place in the Bani Gala residence of Imran Khan, since police also provide security to him,` the statement said.

However, the statement did not clarify who does have jurisdiction over the premises.

The FJA is an autonomous body, established under the Federal Judicial Academy Act, 1997.

It functions under a board of governors that is headed by the chief justice of Pakistan and the chief justices of the provincial high courts are also its members.

FJA Media Coordinator Hashim Abro could not be reached for comment, despite several attempts.