There is a new twist in the ongoing investigations into Pakistani journalist Arshard Sharif's murder after the three-member commission from the Asian country dropped the probe.
The team, which was headed by Pakistani retired judge Abdul Shakoor Paracha as the chairman, explained that it dropped the inquiry due to various factors including demands from Sharif's mother, Riffat Ara Alvi.
In an address to the press on Sunday, November 6, Paracha explained that the team would not proceed with the probe due to dissatisfaction and rejection of commission by the mother, according to Dawn - a news outlet.
Other reasons included a request initially made by Alvi to the country's Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Umar Ata Bandial as well as lack of media representation in the commission.
Paracha further argued that Intelligence Bureau Deputy Director General (DDG) Omar Shahid Hamid, who was part of the commission, had already visited Nairobi prior to the formation of the commission.
"(It is not) legally sustainable that he (DDG Hamid) can be a part of the commission based on his previous findings," stated the retired judge.
Earlier, Sharif's mother had penned a letter to CPJ demanding that a high-powered team be formed to make sure that the case does not become controversial.
Alvi argued that the commission should consist of Supreme Court judges and should aim to unearth the real motive of the murder.
“Only knowing the real motive and criminals and bringing them to justice will end the agony of Shaheed Arshad Sharif’s family and his journalist fraternity. Otherwise, I will rest my case to Allah awaiting His justice.
“I hope my letter receives due attention given the gravity of the case and is not ignored like my Shaheed son’s letter written to the authorities informing about threats to his life,” she stated in the letter.
Since the journalist's murder, the Pakistani Government dispatched a task force to help Kenyan authorities unravel the case.
The task force arrived a few days after the government of Kenya, on Tuesday, October 25 facilitated the repatriation of the Sharif’s remains to Pakistani.
The development followed a phone conversation between President William Ruto and the Pakistani leader where they agreed to fast-track the journalist's burial in line with Islam traditions.
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