ISLAMABAD: A district and session court issued a non-bailable arrest warrant for Somia Arshad, wife of journalist Arshad Sharif, for failing to appear before the court.
The Judicial Magistrate issued the warrant after Somia failed to appear before the court despite repeated calls in the Arshad Sharif murder case. Speaking to a private TV channel, Somia said she came to know about the arrest warrant from the media.
Renowned journalist Arshad Sharif was killed in Kenya in October last year. Kenyan Police had initially described the killing as a case of ‘mistaken identity’. An investigation in Pakistan revealed that Arshad left Pakistan after fearing for his life.
The Supreme Court of Pakistan took suo motu notice of the case a joint investigation team was formed which even went to Kenya to ascertain facts. However, the case is far from concluded as the Kenya authorities have refused to cooperate due to the lack of bilateral agreements.
READ MORE: Arshad Sharif murder: Kenya cops resume jobs, receive promotions
In April, the Supreme Court (SC) hinted at forming a judicial commission into the murder of senior journalist Arshad Sharif.
The written verdict of the suo motu stated if the court is not satisfied with the investigation, then a judicial commission will be constituted.
The counsel of Arshad Sharif’s family, Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui, raised objections to the court proceedings. He said that the Supreme Court can monitor and investigate matter cases related to basic rights but not the investigation of JIT.
The written verdict further stated that the court has granted three more weeks to JIT to conduct the investigation abroad.
He said the Supreme Court can constitute a judicial commission, as the murder of prominent journalist Arshad Sharif is a matter of basic human rights as well.
The court has received more than 5,000 letters for the investigation of the Arshad Sharif Murder case and eventually took action to ascertain in which the noted journalist was killed.
