• The AAG requested more time to ratify the MLA agreement, stating it would secure presidential approval within a month.
• Justice Rizvi argued that Kenyan authorities failed to support Sharif’s family.
• Justice Amin criticized joint investigation teams (JITs) for their ineffectiveness and the delay in the case.

The Supreme Court’s constitutional bench on Friday raised concerns over the government’s delay in ratifying a mutual legal assistance agreement with Kenya in the murder case of journalist Arshad Sharif.

Kenyan police shot and killed Arshad in October 2022 in a case of “mistaken identity.” The journalist left Pakistan in August 2022 after authorities filed multiple treason cases against him in different cities.

Justice Aminuddin Khan led a six-member bench in conducting the suo motu hearing of the case today.

The constitutional bench of the top court criticized the additional attorney general (AAG) for the government’s handling of the Sharif murder case and demanded a daily progress report.

At the start of today’s hearing, the AAG asked for more time to ratify the mutual legal assistance (MLA) agreement with Kenya, stating that the government would secure presidential approval within a month.

Justice Hasan Azhar Rizvi asked why the government had not yet ratified the agreement signed on December 10.

Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhail questioned whether the court should start demanding daily progress reports, while Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar criticized the government for repeatedly requesting more time despite a three-month delay.

Justice Rizvi stated that Kenyan authorities brutally murdered a well-known Pakistani journalist, yet the government had failed to support his family there.

Justice Mandokhail suggested that the federal government could join the case in Kenya if necessary.

The AAG told the court that the Ministry of Interior received a request to advance the investigation on February 27. However, Justice Mandokhail questioned why authorities had waited until February to act despite the last hearing occurring in December.

Justice Rizvi ordered the government to submit a daily progress report.

Justice Amin stated that the court did not support joint investigation teams (JITs) because they were often ineffective. He added that the delay in the case had become a serious concern.

During the hearing, Justice Mazhar asked who was responsible for sending the summary to the president. The AAG replied that the Ministry of Interior would send it after the cabinet’s approval but admitted he had not contacted the ministry.

Justice Mazhar noted that interior ministry officials were present in court and questioned the communication gap.

Later, a joint secretary from the Ministry of Interior told the court that the ministry had forwarded the summary to the foreign ministry after the cabinet approved it on February 27.

Justice Mazhar asked whether the president had the authority to reject the agreement, but the ministry’s legal adviser refused to comment.

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