ISLAMABAD, Oct 25 (FD):Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has decided to form a judicial commission to investigate the killing of senior journalist Arshad Sharif, Information Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb announced in a statement on Tuesday.
In a statement, the information minister said Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had decided to form a judicial commission headed by a high court judge.
She added that the head of the commission would also be able to appoint members from civil society and the media fraternity in order to ascertain the facts.
Sharif was shot dead in Kenya allegedly by the local police on Sunday night, with an official police statement later expressing “regrets on the unfortunate incident” and saying an investigation was underway.
Initially, Kenyan media quoted the local police as saying Sharif was shot dead by police in a case of “mistaken identity”.
Amid widespread condemnation and condolences pouring in from various quarters, a petition was filed with the IHC yesterday, seeking the court to order the formation of a judicial commission to investigate why the journalist was forced to flee Pakistan, and later the United Arab Emirates. The court had admitted the plea the same day.
IHC tells govt to keep journalists’ bodies in the loop
Separately, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) directed the government to keep journalist bodies on board while it investigates. During the hearing, IHC Chief Justice Athar Minallah said he made it to the court today for this particular case.
“Did anyone visit the aggrieved family? Do they need any [legal] assistance,” Justice Minallah asked while reminding the government of the court’s previous orders wherein directions were issued to government officials to visit the heirs of the slain journalist.
Petitioner Shoaib Razzaq said the body of the slain journalist would reach home today. He reiterated his request to the court that a judicial commission must be formed to probe the death of Sharif.
Justice Minallah remarked that journalists’ organisations should be kept on board with the inquiry, and the formation of the commission at this stage would not serve any purpose.
Deputy Attorney General Syed Ahsan Raza Shah said the incident was indeed unfortunate, adding a report from the Kenyan government was awaited.
“Once the report from the Kenyan government is received and if the petitioner raises any objections to it, we will listen to his concerns,” he told the court.
After hearing arguments, the court adjourned the hearing for a week.
The petition requested the court to order the formation of a judicial commission to investigate why the journalist was forced to flee Pakistan, and later the United Arab Emirates.
“The judicial commission may also be directed to liaison with national agencies and the Kenyan agencies and probe into the heinous act which had led to the unwarranted cold-blooded murder of Arshad Sharif,” the petition stated.
It also requested the court to issue directives for bringing the journalist’s body back to Pakistan.
Body to arrive early tomorrow morning
Meanwhile, the Foreign Office, in a statement, said “the mortal remains of the late journalist are being repatriated from Nairobi tonight on board flight departing Nairobi at 1:25am for Doha.”
“Onward flight will leave Doha at 1935 hours (25 Oct) and arrive Islamabad 1:05 hours tomorrow night,” the FO added.
It said Pakistan High Commissioner Saqlain Syeda was at the Nairobi airport overseeing the arrangements.
Sharif’s wife Javeria Siddique, meanwhile, tweeted that her husband was “coming back home in a coffin”, adding that “authorities in Kenya are answerable to us”.
