‘Arshad Sharif killing case evidence can’t be checked officially in Kenya’

ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has been informed that since there is no mutual legal assistance (MLA) agreement between the Pakistani and Kenyan governments, evidence and other material cannot be officially checked in Kenya in the case of Pakistani journalist Arshad Sharif’s killing.

The court directed the federal law officer to seek instructions from the federal government for the constitution of a judicial commission to investigate the deaths of seven journalists, including Sharif.

Issuing a written order on the petition for forming a judicial commission to investigate Sharif’s killing, IHC Chief Justice Aamer Farooq said that the Islamabad IG and the investigation team’s head had apprised the court about the progress made in the case.

The court said that according to both officers, since there is no MLA agreement with the Kenyan government, evidence and other material cannot be checked officially in Kenya. It was stated that the MLA agreement will be signed in the near future, added the court.

The petitioner’s counsel said that the matter has been lingering for a considerable period of time, and it would be appropriate for the sake of transparency that a judicial commission be constituted by the federal government to unearth the truth. The counsel added that seven journalists have been killed this year, and that a commission should be formed not only for Sharif but also for the other journalists.The court said that the stance taken by the petitioner’s counsel is fair. The federal law officer sought time to seek instructions from the authorities concerned, so the court granted him time and directed him to file his comments. The court also directed the representatives of the Ministry of Interior and the Ministry of Law & Justice to appear before the court in person on August 6.