SC rejects plea to question PTI chief

Apex court says present suo motu is to merely facilitate investigation into murder of Arshad Sharif

ISLAMABAD:

The Supreme Court on Wednesday dismissed a plea filed by the mother of slain journalist Arshad Sharif, seeking directives for a joint investigation team (JIT) to question individuals, including PTI Chairman Imran Khan, who claimed to possess information regarding the anchorperson's murder.

The court declared the plea as non-maintainable, indicating that it did not meet the necessary legal requirements for consideration.

“The court in present suo motu is merely facilitating the investigation into the assassination of Arshad Sharif and it has no mandate to direct the course of investigation,” said the written order issued in the case by the apex court.

The remarks by the top court come as Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui, learned counsel representing the mother of the slain journalist, had shared the names of certain people who his client suspects have knowledge regarding the conspirators and perpetrators involved in her son’s assassination.

A day earlier, Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial underscored the importance of finding the reasons behind the killing of Pakistani journalist Arshad Sharif, pointing out that there was no progress in the investigation.

During a hearing of the suo motu notice case pertaining to Sharif’s murder in Kenya, the chief justice expressed his displeasure over publication of a report of the fact-finding committee and asked why precaution was not adopted regarding the report.

Read Slain anchor's mother wants PTI chief quizzed

The CJP remarked that it was imperative to know why Sharif went to Kenya. He also stressed the need for examining the vehicle in which the journalist was killed.

The lawyer for the mother of the slain journalist had pleaded for an investigation, involving five people, including the PTI chairman.

However, the chief justice told the lawyer to approach the Special Joint Investigation Team (JIT).

Attorney General for Pakistan (AGP) Mansoor Usman Awan apprised the bench that the Special JIT report on the matter had been delayed, but communication with Interpol was ongoing.

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the chief justice said, the case could not proceed until a mutual cooperation agreement was signed with Kenya.