Arshad Sharif’s assassination: PM Shehbaz urges CJP Bandial to constitute judicial commission,

Islamabad_Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday wrote a letter to Supreme Court (SC) Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Umar Atta Bandial to form a judicial commission on the firing incident against Imran Khan during a long march.

The prime minister, in his letter, said that the federal government would be indebted to the Supreme Court for consideration of its request in the interest of rule of law, PM Office Media Wing said in a press release on Tuesday.

He assured that the federal government would provide full assistance to the commission in reaching to this objective.

It was stressed that in the opinion of the federal government, for the sake of actual factors and public confidence, the formation of the judicial commission was necessary. The proposed Court’s commission should bring forth the facts and fix the responsibility, it was further prayed.

The prime minister, in his letter, requested that the proposed Commission could take into consideration five relevant questions, including which law enforcement body was responsible to provide security to the long march!

Whether the relevant safety measures and standard operating procedures (SOPs) were adopted for the protection of the participants of the long march and whether those were implemented! What were the actual factors behind the incident!  What were the facts involving presence of more than one shooter, retaliatory firing, number of victims, and the nature of their injuries! the contents of the letter shared in Urdu language by the press wing said.

Whether the law enforcement agencies and administrative authorities adopted the relevant investigation process! Whether they had collected the evidences and put in place the process to counter the situation on the spot! If not, then what were the shortcomings in the legal process! and what administrative authorities, law enforcement entities and provincial authorities were held responsible!

Whether deliberate hurdles were being created in the investigation process! If hurdles were being created then who were the elements behind it and why they were doing so! the contents of the letter further said.

Whether it was a conspiracy to murder PTI chairman or whether it was an individual act, and in any case, who were responsible!

The prime minister, in his letter, said that the country was plunged into chaos and law and order situation after the occurrence of the sorrowful firing incident on a procession of Imran Khan in Wazirabad.

The PTI leaders had been delivering venom laced speeches and due to the violent protests, threats were created for the state and for the lives and properties of the citizens.

The global media and national media were covering the events. And after a lapse of 72 hours, no FIR had been lodged.

Unfortunately, the contents of the letter said, the PTI’s Punjab government did not adhere to the legal procedures which were mandatory in such like situation.

It was equally pathetic that the crime scene was not secured. The container where the incident took place and where the people received injuries, was not secured for the purpose of forensic examination. The medico-legal report of the PTI’s chairman was not compiled as he was rushed to a private hospital which was not a legal procedure.

The process which was adopted after the incident, gave rise to suspicions that the provincial government and its responsible could tamper with the evidences.

It amounted to mala fide manifestation that relevant legal procedures had not been adopted over the probe process and collection of evidences, the prime minister said in the letter, adding that the federal government had already addressed a letter to the provincial administration, expressing its serious reservations.

Earlier today, the PM wrote a letter to the CJP to constitute a judicial commiss

The prime minister asked the chief justice to form a commission comprising all the justices of the Supreme Court as the commission was important to uphold the law in the country.

Civil society members, journalists, politicians, and people from all walks of life condemned the killing of Sharif and demanded the government ascertain the cause behind his untimely death.

He suggested the CJP focus on five questions — through which procedure did Arshad Sharif go abroad in August 2022? Who facilitated Sharif’s departure abroad? Was any federal or provincial agency aware of any threat to Sharif? Was any organisation or administration aware of any threat to Sharif? If Sharif’s life was in danger, what steps were taken to save him? What were the circumstances, and reasons under Sharif went to Kenya from UAE? What is the truth behind the shooting incident in which Sharif died?

The prime minister also assured the CJP that the federal government would provide full support to the commission and that the government was already probing the incident through its resources.

“After the unfortunate incident, we sent a team comprising experienced officers to Kenya. The federal government had formed a commission which included a retired judge of the Lahore High Court.”

PM Shehbaz said it is important to probe Sharif’s contacts before his departure from Pakistan.After the death of Sharif, suspicions were raised about the federal government and state institutions. Supreme Court Commission must be formed to restore public trust. If an impartial body does not investigate, there is a risk of damage on a long-term basis,” the prime minister stressed.

ion on the matter of investigations of the senior TV anchor Arshad Sharif’s murder in Kenya.

In the second letter to the CJP, the PM appealed to form the judicial commission comprising all available judges of the Supreme Court.