When asked as to why the tapes had been initially edited, Latif stated that

the tapes had been in the safekeeping of a relative of Basit Alis and they had
been edited by this relative or someone for the sake of this relative of Basits,
as the relative was a heart patient. Perhaps this was the truth but these actions
made the tapes tainted and the Commission is also aware of the chance, albeit not a
great one, that some or all the tapes may well have been doctored or manufactured.

Moreover, when Rashid Latif was thereafter asked to produce the original
copies, he produced some somewhat unedited copies. There were some discrepancies in
one of the tapes that made us believe that the Commission was not given the
originals.

Further, Rashid Latif has stated that he has not submitted all the tapes he
made as the others contained meaningless conversation. This also presents the
commission with the possibility that the picture presented to it may well be skewed
as only certain conversations may have been submitted to it.

In light of all of this, the Commission chose to give the tapes limited
weight: to use them as weak corroboration, especially if denied, and primarily as a
source of leads to be followed.

Summaries of these conversations are found in the Appendix II.