Arshad Sharif murder case: CJP hints at formation of judicial commission

• Lawyer Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui objected to the supervision of the JIT investigation
• Justice Naqvi says Supreme Court is not implicating or protecting anyone
• CJP hinted at formation of judicial commission in the murder case

ISLAMABAD: Supreme Court of Pakistan on Friday heard the suo notice regarding the murder of renowned journalist and anchorperson Arshad Sharif.

A five-member bench headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan Umar Ata Bandial heard the case to review the progress of the Joint Investigation Team (JIT) formed to probe the murder of the journalist.

Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui, the lawyer for Arshad’s mother, appeared before the bench and objected to the supervision of the JIT investigation by the court.

The lawyer said Arshad Sharif’s mother has reservations about the proceedings of the suo motu notice. He said Arshad’s mother wants to file an FIR according to her statement. He urged the court that the culprits behind Arshad’s murder should be apprehended.

Justice Mazahar Ali Akbar Naqvi did not endorse Siddiqui’s objection, saying that according to the law, the Supreme Court could supervise the investigation. “Do you want the court to end the hearing? How can we not supervise?” the judge asked.

Justice Ijaz-ul-Ahsan said the court is not punishing or acquitting anyone but is only facilitating the investigation.

Lawyer Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui said the court verdict in the Shahnaz Bibi case states that the court cannot supervise the case. He said the matter should be handed over to Justice for Peace and the Supreme Court should not monitor the case.

Justice Mazahar Ali Akbar Naqvi said the Supreme Court can supervise the investigation, leading to a heated argument with the lawyer.

CJP Bandia justified the suo motu proceedings by saying that the JIT had only received funding after court intervention. The top judge said the court took notice of the killing of the prominent journalist to protect human rights.

“Supreme Court respects the field of journalism. The court took notice for the sake of basic human rights. Arshad Sharif was an important person in an important field, the Chief Justice of Pakistan,” the judge said.

He added that the apex court is neither implicating nor protecting anyone. He said the court is not supervising the investigation but supporting institutions.

“Arshad Sharif was a journalist and a Pakistani citizen. We are also saddened by this murder incident,” the Chief Justice said.

He said the court took suo moto notice after the fact-finding report as several aspects required investigation.

He said the case was registered as soon as the court proceedings started. He added the government was not providing funds to JIT but the Supreme Court provided them the financing for investigation.

CJP Bandial said expressed his displeasure over the lack of progress in the investigation. He said the Foreign Office failed to seek assistance from two countries in the case.

Justice Mazahir Naqvi said it is the authority of the court to supervise the investigation. He said the court can end the suo moto proceedings.  Justice Jamal Mandokhel said if Arshad Sharif’s mother thinks the court cannot help her then the case will be closed.

Lawyer Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui said Arshad Sharif’s mother wants to approach the court to register an FIR as per her statement. He said the court should ordered SHO Ramna police station to register the FIR.

Additional Attorney General Ch Amir Rehman stated that there has been no response from UAE authorities and that they are awaiting a response on Mutual Legal Assistance (MLA) from Kenyan authorities.

Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Umar Ata Bandial hinted at the formation of a judicial commission in case no progress is made by the joint investigation team (JIT) probing Arshad Sharif’s murder.

The chief justice said that if the bench found there is no progress in the JIT’s probe, then they could form a judicial commission wherein everyone would be summoned to record their statements. The court adjourned the hearing for three weeks.

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