Arshad Sharif's case investigation slows down by FCC

ISLAMABAD: The Federal Constitutional Court (FCC) hinted on Wednesday at wrapping up the current suo motu case that was taken to seek an independent and transparent investigation into the murder of journalist Arshad Sharif.

“We will make an appropriate order and may seek the aid of the parties if needed,” noted Justice Aamer Farooq, while saying that one of the main concerns that the court was facing was what it needed to do next.

The bench is being headed by justice Farooq while hearing a case that was suo motu before the Supreme Court.

Previously, the matter came before the SC in December 2022, with the case being considered before a bench of five SC judges

Court refers to ‘slow investigation’, MLA agreement with Kenya

Nevertheless, due to the adoption of the 26th Constitutional Amend­ment, it was first moved to a six-member constitutional court of the SC and then to FCC with the adoption of the 27th Constitutional Amend­ment.

Arshad Sharif incurred a headshot wound when the Kenyan police opened fire on his car on the outskirts of Nairobi on Oct 23, 2022. Arshad had moved to Pakistan in August 2022 due to sedition charges being registered against him in different cities of Pakistan.

The FCC on Wednesday said that it intended to close the proceedings after Additional Attorney General AAG Chaudhry Aamir Rehman told the court that a mutual legal assistance agreement had been signed between the governments of Pakistan and Kenya in September last year. He added that a request has already been sent for Special Joint Investigation Team SJIT, constituted exclusively for the probe, to visit the crime scene.

The AAG recalled that the report by the SJIT had already been filed in court, adding that the Kenyan government had initially refused to help with the investigation.

The law officer explained that the government would dispatch the SJIT once the Kenyan government allowed it to inspect the crime scene for further investigation. He added that in view of the evidence provided by the Kenyan government, the team would probe into the murder of the journalist.

Justice Farooq said there was a difference in the way the government and the court had approa­ched the matter, adding that though the investigation process had been slow, blame could not be placed on anyone.