Supreme Court Refers Arshad Sharif Case to Committee for Refixing Before Five-Member Bench
On July 29, the Supreme Court of Pakistan referred the murder case of journalist Arshad Sharif back to a three-judge committee for reassignment to a five-judge bench. Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah noted that a larger bench previously heard the case and it should continue to be heard by a five-judge panel, subject to the availability of two specific judges.
Attorney General for Pakistan Mansoor Usman Awan informed the court that a draft Mutual Legal Assistance (MLA) agreement, designed to request formal assistance from Kenyan authorities in accessing suspects involved in the killing, is ready for cabinet approval. The Kenyan High Court recently ruled the 2022 killing of Arshad Sharif by Kenyan law enforcement unlawful.
Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui, counsel for the journalist’s mother, requested the court call forth those claiming knowledge of the culprits and reminded the court of its pledged “facilitator” role in the matter. The hearing was adjourned indefinitely, pending the availability of the judges for the larger bench.
Justice Mansoor Ali Shah observed that the case had been mistakenly scheduled before the three-member bench during the hearing.
Advocate Shaukat Siddiqui, representing the family members of the slain journalist, informed the court that earlier, they had submitted an application before the larger bench and had requested summoning those people who claim that they have knowledge as to who killed Arshad Sharif.
Arshad Sharif, a prominent journalist, was shot dead in Kenya in October 2022. The Supreme Court of Pakistan, hearing a suo moto case regarding the murder of Sharif issued notices to several high-profile officials during a hearing on July 25 in Islamabad High Court (IHC), including the Attorney General, the Director General of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), the Interior Secretary, and the Inspector General of Islamabad Police.
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