ISLAMABAD: Form a “special joint investigation team (SJIT)” to investigate the murder of journalist Arshad Sharif and include the members of Inter-Services Intelligence, police, Intelligence Bureau, and the Federal Investigation Agency in it.
This is what the five-member bench of the Supreme Court led by Chief Justice of Pakistan Umar Ata Bandial said while resuming the suo motu case concerning the killing of journalist Arshad Sharif in Kenya. The other four members of the bench are Justice Ijazul Ahsan, Justice Jamal Mandokhel, Justice Syed Mazahar Ali Akbar Naqvi, and Justice Mohammad Ali Mazhar.
The order came after Additional Attorney General (AAG) Aamir Rehman told the apex court that the police have formed a JIT. The SC rejected it. It ordered the government to issue the notification for the new JIT.
Sharif’s mother Riffat Ara Alvi and his widow were present for the hearing, along with the FIA director general, the information secretary, and the Islamabad police chief.
At the outset of the hearing, AAG Rehman read out the fact finding committee report and informed the court that the government’s team received information from the Kenyan officials. The team members met with the three officials who fired bullets, he said, adding that a meeting with the fourth official could not be held due to his injury.
The additional attorney general told the court that they were trying to meet the minister concerned and the cabinet secretary. He added that Pakistan’s High Commission in Kenya was in touch with the officials concerned and the case of the slain journalist’s murder was registered on Tuesday.
On this, Justice Ahsan asked about the people who apparently fired bullets. They are allegedly the officials of Kenyan police, AAG Rehman said.
Justice Mazhar said that the report did not contain what the officials, who fired bullets, told the Pakistani team.
“The court received the report at 1am,” CJP Bandial said.
AAG Rehman replied that a new cabinet was formed in Kenya four days ago and efforts were under way to meet them. The Kenyan government is investigating, he said, adding that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs was also in touch with Kenya’s embassy in Pakistan.
“The real evidence of Arshad Sharif’s brutal murder is in Kenya. The matter will have to be taken up with the Kenyan authorities. The work of the fact finding committee is commendable,” CJP Bandial said.
Justice Mazhar pointed out that the names of the officials, who fired bullets, were not written in the report. He asked why was the case not registered against the officers who fired bullets.
Justice Mandokhel asked on what basis three people were named in the FIR.
AAG Rehman replied that it has to be reviewed whether a case could be filed against foreigners or not. The inquiry report would be made part of the record.
“This is a very serious matter. We are warning the government to also take it seriously,” Justice Naqvi said.
According to the report, CJP Bandial said the named suspects have contacts with “important personalities”. The government should appoint such officials who could conduct transparent investigations.
“The investigation should start from Waqar and Khurram,” the CJP said, “the statement of Arshad Sharif’s mother should be recorded. This is a criminal matter. There is no need for judicial commission.”
Taking the stand, Sharif’s mother said that she just wanted justice for her son. To this, the CJP said that there was no need for thanks, the court was doing its duty.
“The way Arshad was expelled from Pakistan is written in the report, and the same way Arshad was expelled from Dubai is also in the report,” she said.
The chief justice of Pakistan said that Sharif’s mother has given the names of many people. The government should investigate her claims from all angles according to law, he added.
Justice Mazhar told Sharif’s mother that she has to record her statement to the investigation team. To this, she said that she has already done that.
“Since it is a criminal case, the court did not form the commission. The case starts with Khurram and Waqar,” CJP Bandial said, adding that they don’t want such an officer in the JIT who works under the suspects.
The Ministry of External Affairs should fully support the JIT in gathering evidence, CJP Bandial said, adding that if necessary, support from international organisations including the United Nations should be provided by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
“All information should be shared with Arshad Sharif’s family. It is to be ensured that competent and qualified officers do their work according to the law.”
Arshad Sharif’s wife’s lawyer told the court that a copy of the fact-finding report should be provided, to which Justice Mazhar said that the fact-finding report was public.
The additional attorney general told the court that the police have formed a JIT in the case of Arshad Sharif’s murder.
The hearing of the case was subsequently adjourned till tomorrow (Thursday).
