ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court received a report from the Special Joint Investigation Team (SJIT) investigating Kenyan journalist Arshad Sharif’s killing.
A five-judge SC bench led by CJP Umar Ata Bandial launched suo motu proceedings. It was launched to ensure a transparent and independent probe into the journalist’s murder. Justices Ijaz-ul-Ahsan, Sayyed Mazahar Ali Akbar Naqvi, Jamal Khan Mandokhail, and Muhammad Ali Mazhar complete the bench.
The Supreme Court ordered the SJIT to submit its report within two weeks on February 13. After this order SC postponed further hearing until March.
At the last hearing, the court called the SJIT’s visit to the UAE and Kenya “not fruitful”. Court said the interim report was negative.
In its last order, the court had ordered the SJIT to probe what had motivated Mr Sharif to leave Pakistan? The judgement directed the SJIT to investigate the journalist’s many FIRs and any sensitive information he may have had.
The inquiry team will also investigate why Dubai officials ordered Mr. Sharif to leave the UAE and who disclosed the two-member committee’s fact-finding report and why.
The SJIT’s prior report revealed that Kenyan authorities were not happy by the premature release of the two-member committee’s fact-finding report.
The court then stated that it would not speculate on the Kenyan government’s shift in approach.
Kenya Response
The Supreme Court instructed MoFA to familiarise itself with the procedures and conditions for requesting UN aid if needed.
The apex court gave suggestion to involve the UN in the investigation to secure Kenyan government participation. Then-Additional Attorney General (AAG) Chaudhry Aamir Rehman informed the court that correct diplomatic channels had been engaged under the Mutual Legal Assistance Act, 2011 to seek Kenyan cooperation. Thus, before reaching the UN, that process may be given time.
The AAG had previously said that Kenyan government didn’t granted permission to SJIT to interrogate witnesses or see the crime scene in Kenya.
