SC hints at forming JC in Arshad’s killing case

The Supreme Court has indicated it could form a judicial commission in slain journalist Arshad Sharif’s suo motu case.

The apex court has issued the written order of the last hearing held on March 17.

It said that it had received more than 5,000 letters, requesting the court to investigate the journalist’s murder and that it wanted transparent probe into the matter.

Arshad had left Pakistan in August last year after a number of cases were registered against him.

It was reported that he was initially staying in the UAE but later went to Kenya, where he was shot dead.

The government had subsequently constituted a team that travelled to Kenya to investigate the murder.

In the written order, the top court stated that if it was not satisfied with the investigation, a judicial commission would be constituted.

It further said that Arshad’s family lawyer Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui had objected to the court proceedings. According to him, the Supreme Court could not supervise the investigation of the JIT and that it could monitor and probe matters related to fundamental rights.

The court said that the additional attorney general (AAG) had informed the court about mutual legal assistance from Kenya and the UAE.

According to the AAG, Kenyan authorities had not yet responded about the mutual legal assistance.

The written order stated that the special JIT was given another three weeks for investigation from abroad.

It said that the court could form a judicial commission considering that the matter pertained to important fundamental rights.

It was further noted that Arshad’s murder was a matter of fundamental rights apart from being the murder of a prominent journalist.

Further hearing of the case will be held this month.