SC directs govt to form ‘independent’ JIT to probe into Arshad Sharif’s murder

SC has directed the government to form ‘independent’ JIT to probe into journalist Arshad Sharif’s murder.

A day after taking the suo motu notice of journalist Arshad Sharif’s killing, the Supreme Court of Pakistan on Wednesday rejected the committee formed by the police in the Arshad Sharif murder case and ordered to form a new joint investigation team (JIT).

“Federal government should immediately form a new investigation team. The court wants an independent team to investigate the issue,” remarked Chief Justice of Pakistan Umar Ata Bandial.

The CJP added that the court does not want any member to have connections with any influential person.

CJP also ordered to get assistance from the United Nations and other international organizations if the need be.

CJP Bandial observed that the basic evidence of the murder case are in Kenya. “

The case starts from Khurram and Waqar. We have ensured the mother of Arshad Sharif that the investigation team will probe the murder without any pressure,” CJP  remarked, adding “In the report, one of the two brothers sent the visa to Arshad Sharif and one of them told another on phone that Arshad Sharif had been murdered.”

Justice Jamal Mandokhel remarked that on which basis three people have been nominated in the case.

Meanwhile, Justice Sayyed Mazahar Ali Akbar Naqvi observed that the Kenyan police officers who had shot at Sharif were not mentioned in the report. He also asked why a case was not registered against the Kenyan cops.

Arshad Sharif’s mother also appeared before the bench during today’s hearing.

During the hearing,she said while weeping that Arshad Sharif was forced to leave Pakistan and later he was chased abroad as well.

“I want justice for my son,” she appealed to the apex court.

The federal government had formed a five-member JIT to probe into senior journalist Arshad Sharif’s murder following the registration of the first information report on the court’s order.

The IG Islamabad constituted the JIT earlier today to investigate Arshad Sharif’s murder and named DIG headquarters as its chairman.