The Supreme Court of Pakistan resumed its suo motu hearing on the Arshad Sharif murder case, where the federal government requested additional time to finalize the Mutual Legal Assistance (MLA) agreement with Kenya.
Expressing dissatisfaction over the prolonged delays, the court adjourned the hearing for one month.
During the proceedings, Justice Aminuddin Khan remarked that Joint Investigation Teams (JITs) often fail to deliver effective results. The Additional Attorney General (AAG) informed the court that while the agreement with Kenya was signed on December 10, it has yet to receive the President’s ratification.
Justice Hassan Azhar Rizvi questioned the extended delay in approval despite several months having passed, while Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhail suggested the possibility of demanding a daily progress report on the matter.
Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar expressed concern over the government’s continued requests for more time, even after three months. The Foreign Ministry’s legal advisor refrained from commenting on whether the President could reject the agreement.
Javeria Siddique, the second wife of Arshad Sharif, was represented in court through her lawyer. Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhail inquired why she had to pursue the case alone in Kenya without government support.
The AAG informed the court that Pakistan has not been granted access to the crime scene in Kenya, making the investigation challenging. He further stated that over 30 individuals in Pakistan have recorded their statements regarding the case.
Frustrated by the delays, Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar emphasized that the suo motu case had remained unresolved for years. The court instructed the government to provide a copy of its investigation report to the legal representatives of Arshad Sharif’s mother.
Concluding the session, the Supreme Court granted the government a one-month extension to finalize the agreement and accelerate the investigation process.
