The Supreme Court of Pakistan resumed the suo motu hearing of the Arshad Sharif murder case, during which the federal government requested additional time to finalize the Mutual Legal Assistance (MLA) agreement with Kenya.
The court, however, expressed dissatisfaction over the delays and adjourned the hearing for one month.
During the proceedings, Justice Aminuddin Khan remarked that Joint Investigation Teams (JITs) are ineffective and do not yield beneficial results.
Additional Attorney General (AAG) informed the court that the agreement with Kenya was signed on December 10 but has yet to be ratified by the President of Pakistan.
Justice Hassan Azhar Rizvi questioned why the agreement had not been approved despite the passage of several months.
Justice Jamal Mandokhail asked whether the court should demand a daily progress report on the matter.
Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar expressed concern that even after three months, the government is still seeking more time.
The Foreign Ministry's legal advisor declined to comment on whether the President could reject the agreement.
Javeria Siddique, the second wife of Arshad Sharif, appeared in court through her lawyer.
Justice Jamal Mandokhail questioned why the widow had to fight the case alone in Kenya and why the
government was not providing support.
The AAG stated that Pakistan has not been granted access to the crime scene in Kenya, making investigations difficult.
The AAG also informed the court that over 30 individuals in Pakistan have recorded their statements in connection with the case.
Expressing frustration over the prolonged delay, Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar noted that the suo motu case had been pending for years.
The court directed the government to provide a copy of its investigation report to the legal representatives of Arshad Sharif’s mother.
Ultimately, the Supreme Court adjourned the hearing for one month, instructing the government to finalize the agreement and expedite the investigation process.
