ISLAMABAD: Supreme Court on Wednesday rejected a special Joint Investigation Team (JIT), constituted by the federal government, and ordered to form the JIT comprising officials from the intelligence agencies to probe into the assassination of prominent journalist Arshad Sharif who was killed in the outskirts of Kenyan capital Nairobi on October 23.
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The Apex Court ordered that the JIT must not include anyone whose officer was being named in the case, and that the court be apprised of the names of JIT members by tomorrow. It further ordered that JIT officers should be able to work independently, and capable of not only understanding the case but also bringing evidence from other countries.
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During the course of proceedings today, the Additional Attorney General presented Fact Finding report prepared by Pakistan’s investigators who also visited Kenya for the purpose, and presented FIR registered in Ramna Police Station of the federal capital territory.
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Chief Justice Supreme Court, Justice Umar Ata Bandial, commenting on this occasion, said since incident took place in Kenya, the FIR was a brief paper with no evidence and details. He said the court would also hear the statement of mother of Arshad Sharif, who appeared today on a wheel-chair.
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As the proceedings moved forward, the Chief Justice enquired if a case against Kenyan personnel involved in the incident could be registered in Pakistan. On this, the Additional Attorney General replied that he would need time to respond on this question.
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Justice Mohammad Ali Mazhar said Fact Finding Report didn’t contain statements of Kenyan police personnel who were involved in the shooting, on which the Additional Attorney General replied that the registration of FIR was an initial step, and the investigation would move forward.
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The mother of the slain journo thanked the SC for taking Suo Motu notice, and said she had prepared a report to cover details about circumstances as to how his son was first expelled from Pakistan, and then forced out of Dubai. She said she had penned down all of the names who were believed to be involved in the murder of Arshad Sharif.
On this occasion, the Chief Justice directed the Additional Attorney General to examine the statement given by mother of Arshad Sharif.
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After today’s SC proceedings, PFUJ president Afzal Butt told media that the mother of slain journo had submitted a sealed envelope to the Chief Justice containing details about circumstances leading to Arshad Sharif’s murder.
At the end of today’s SC proceedings, the Chief Justice ordered to record statement of Waqar and Khurram, who hosted Arshad Sharif in Kenya, and the mother of the slain journo. The CJP said that since it was a criminal case, there was no need to form a judicial commission.
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The Supreme Court rejected the special JIT formed by the federal government, and ordered to form a new JIT with officers who were capable enough to not only investigate into the matter but could also bring evidences and substance from abroad. The hearing was later adjourned until tomorrow.
