The Federal Constitutional Court on Wednesday indicated that the suo motu proceedings in the Arshad Sharif murder case had entered their final stage and that an appropriate order would be issued shortly.

During the hearing, the court directed all parties to submit written arguments within five days. Justice Aamer Farooq, who presided over the proceedings, observed that the investigation in the case had progressed slowly, but said the court did not wish to apportion blame for the delay.

Justice Farooq stated that once the written submissions were received, the court would pass a suitable order.

Additional Attorney General Aamir Rehman informed the court that the Kenyan government had initially declined to cooperate with the investigation. He added that a Mutual Legal Assistance (MLA) agreement between Pakistan and Kenya was concluded in September last year. He said that once Kenyan authorities agreed to further cooperation, a Pakistani investigation team would be dispatched to the crime scene.

Justice Farooq asked what further progress was possible following the agreement between the two countries. In response, the additional attorney general said that two suspects had been named in the challan, black warrants had been issued for suspects present in Kenya, and Interpol had been approached to assist in their arrest.

He told the court that the prime minister had personally contacted the Kenyan president by telephone, and that the government was making every effort to complete the investigation at the earliest. During the hearing, reference was also made to the Imran Farooq murder case.

Justice Farooq remarked that Imran Farooq was killed in England and that Pakistani and British police had conducted a joint investigation in that matter. The Additional Attorney General argued that the nature of the Imran Farooq case differed from that of Arshad Sharif.

The court adjourned further proceedings until the submission of written arguments.