Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Umar Ata Bandial on Friday hinted at the formation of a judicial commission in case no progress was made by the joint investigation team (JIT) probing senior journalist Arshad Sharif's murder.
While hearing the suo motu case, the chief justice said that if the bench found there was no progress in the JIT's probe, they could form a judicial commission wherein everyone linked to the case would be summoned to record their statements.
He added that a request to take up this matter had been made by the slain journalist's mother as well as Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
Chief Justice Bandial said that there should be clarity in the matter, adding that there were allegations against those who protected Arshad and supported him financially from abroad.
He said that there was polarisation in society and transparency was needed in order to maintain peace and harmony.
Earlier, Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui, counsel for Arshad's mother, appeared before a five-judge larger bench, objecting to the way the court was supervising the JIT’s investigation.
However, the CJP justified the suo motu proceedings, saying that the JIT had only received funding after the court’s intervention.
Justice Sayyed Mazahar Ali Akbar Naqvi also did not endorse Siddiqui's objection, saying that according to the law, the Supreme Court could supervise the investigation.
He added that the apex court was neither implicating nor protecting anyone.
Additional Attorney General Ch Amir Rehman stated that there had been no response from the UAE authorities and that they were awaiting a response on Mutual Legal Assistance (MLA) from Kenyan authorities.
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