SC rejects JIT report in Arshad Sharif murder case

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court (SC) again rejected the report of the Joint Investigation Team (JIT) in journalist Arshad Sharif murder case, ARY News reported on Tuesday.

The Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Justice Umar Ata Bandial led a five-member bench of the apex court resumed hearing into the journalist’s assassination case.

Other members of the bench include Justice Ijaz-ul-Ahsan, Justice Sayyed Mazahar Ali Akbar Naqvi, Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhail and Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar.

Attorney General Mansoor Usman Awan and Additional Attorney General of Pakistan Aamir Rehman appeared before the court.

At the outset of the hearing, Justice Mazahar Ali Naqvi remarked no progress has been made in the case yet he also asked about the motive behind the formation of JIT.

So far no concrete material has been provided in the case, he added.

CJP Bandial said JIT is planning to visit UAE again for the probe. He also rejected the report of JIT submitted in the Arshad Sharif murder case. We don’t need such report which lacks facts and progress, he remarked.

Read more: PTI WRITES TO UN, DEMANDS ‘INDEPENDENT’ PROBE INTO ARSHAD SHARIF MURDER

The top judge asked why the two officers who prepared fact-finding report were not included in the JIT? He also remarked that SC wants a transparent and fair investigation in Arshad Sharif’s murder case.

The five-judge SC bench had initiated suo motu proceedings to ensure a transparent and independent investigation into the journalist’s murder.

In the previous hearing, the apex court hinted at forming a judicial commission in the murder of senior journalist Arshad Sharif.