Islamabad:The Supreme Court (SC) on Tuesday rejected the report of the special Joint Investigation Team (JIT) in the Arshad Sharif murder case.
“We don’t want reports that show no progress. Two officers submitted a fact-finding report containing numerous statements and evidence. The special JIT did not make any progress,” Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Umar Ata Bandial said.
“The JIT yesterday met the Kenyan high commissioner after the case was fixed for hearing last week. Why has no progress been made since the last hearing? Why the two officers who had made the fact-finding report were not made part of the special JIT?” he questioned.
“The SC wants honest and transparent investigation into the murder of Arshad Sharif,” he stated. “The JIT has asked for the recording of the phone and WhatsApp calls of 20 numbers. Where did the JIT get these 20 numbers?” Justice Mazhar Ali Akbar Naqvi questioned.
“These numbers were mentioned in the fact-finding report,” the attorney general told the court. “These numbers are not mentioned anywhere in the fact-finding report,” Justice Mazhar Ali Akbar Naqvi said.
“All the 20 numbers belong to those who were present at the crime scene. All the numbers have been provided by the Kenyan authorities. The JIT will leave for Dubai and Kenya on May 17 next,” the attorney general further informed the court.
“Does Kenya have the capacity to record WhatsApp calls?” Justice Mazhar Ali Akbar Naqvi questioned.
“Can’t say anything in this regard,” the attorney general said in reply. “If there is no agreement between Kenya and Pakistan, how will the record be found? There are serious reservations about the seriousness of the government. Even the permanent warrants of Khurram and Waqar have not been issued yet,” Justice Mazhar Ali Akbar Naqvi remarked.
“Is the government negotiating with anyone on the issuance of warrants? Issuing a permanent warrant is a matter of few minutes. I don’t understand why the warrants are being made so complicated,” he added.
