Arshad Sharif Murder Case: Kenya Doesn’t Allow JIT to Access Evidence, SC Says

The Joint Investigation Team (JIT) investigating the murder of Pakistani journalist Arshad Sharif has been denied access to evidence by Kenyan authorities,the head of the investigation team said at the Suo Motu case hearing.He told the Supreme court that
“Last year,Arshad Sharif’s assassination of Suomotu in Kenya was confirmed by the Supreme Court. The murder was described as a “misidentified case” by the country’s authorities.
His five-man bench, headed by his Umar Ata Bandial, Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP), resumed hearings in the Suo Motu case today (Monday) after more than a month long postponement.
Other bench members were Justices Ijazul Ahsan,Sayyed Mazahar Ali Akbar Naqvi,Jamal Khan Mandokhail and Muhammad Ali Mazhar.At the start of the hearing,the JIT, formed by the federal government,submitted a second status report to the SC.
Meanwhile,the Supreme Court has ordered authorities to launch an investigation into the factors involved in the disclosure of the commission’s report on the killing of a high-ranking journalist.
At the hearing, CJP Bandial asked who issued the fact sheet and ordered to find out who was behind it.
“The investigation report was released without any verification,” CJP noted, questioning whether this was intentional.He said the investigation conducted in Pakistan was flawed. Judge Naqvi said the court read every word of the report.
“Did you do as you were told?” Judge Naqvi asked his JIT. He asked if the team had found any material related to the killings in Kenya.
In response, the JIT boss said Owais Ahmed had met with officials in Kenya, adding that the East African country had not provided access to the evidence.
“We have not found any concrete documents regarding the murder of Arshad Sharif in Kenya,” he added. “Where is Arshad Sharif’s mobile phone and other equipment?” asked Judge Asan.
To this request, the JIT boss replied that Sharif’s mobile phone and his iPad were at his IT department in Kenya. However, he did receive the rest of his belongings, he told the court without elaborating.
An additional attorney general said Kenya was not cooperating with the murder investigation.
Judge Ahsan asked how a country could seek cooperation with an investigation if it does not have good relations with that country. Meanwhile, CJP Bandial said, “Kenya is an independent country and is not under our jurisdiction.” He said the court wanted to know what the JIT had discovered so far.
CJP asked about future strategies for special JIT strategies going forward,” he asked.
The Chief Justice added that no one could yet be charged with murder.
The court then ordered the JIT to submit a full report within a month, and he postponed the hearing until March.