WEB DESK: The Supreme Court of Pakistan Justice Aminuddin shared his deep concern at the delay in journalist Arshad Sharif’s case, who was shot and killed in Kenya in October 2022. The Constitutional Bench headed by Justice Aminuddin overlooking the suo motu case of Arshad Sharif’s killing granted one-month’s time to the federal government upon their request. The hearing has been postponed for a month.
The Additional Attorney General (AAG) stated that more time was needed for legal assistance agreement with Kenya, and was directed by the bench to submit the copy given by Kenya’s High Court. Pakistan and Kenya signed a mutual legal assistance agreement on December 10, and the ratification was in process to which the Court demanded the reason for the delay. The AAG assured that the agreement would be ratified by the President within a month.
Kenyan court holds police responsible for Arshad Sharif’s murder
Justice Jamal Mandokhail asked if a daily progress report was to be demanded, and Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar lamented that even after three months, more time was being requested.
AAG stated that a memorandum of cooperation with Kenya has been signed but some necessary procedures require time, and that the letter had been sent to Ministry of Interior on February 27 to proceed. Justice Mandokhail demanded the reason behind postponement of the letter, and was told that the AAG could not establish a contact with the Ministry of Interior.
The Court pointed out that the Interior Ministry officials were present, and Joint Secretary Interior informed that the Foreign Ministry had been notified for mutual legal assistance.
Justice Hassan Azhar Rizvi then demanded submission of daily progress reports henceforth while Justice Aminuddin stressed that joint investigative teams were ineffective and do not yield results.