Islamabad: The Superior Court of Islamabad (IHC) eliminated on Friday requests that requested the establishment of the Judicial Commission to investigate the murder of the journalist Arshad Sharif, ruling that the matter was already sub Judice before the Supreme Court.
Judge Raja Inaam Ameen Minhas issued the sentence on three consolidated requests presented by the journalist Hamid Mir, the Judicial Activism Panel and Sharif’s widow, Javeria Siddique.
The petitioners sought a judicial commission initiated by the federal government for a “transparent investigation” in the circumstances surrounding Pakistan’s exit, his stay in Dubai and his murder in Kenya in October 2022.
They argued that the current investigation carried out by a Special Joint Research Team (SJIT) was defective and violated constitutional rights to a fair trial and due process.
The deputy attorney general, who represents the State, responded, stating that the Supreme Court was actively supervising the case after its SUO MOTU speech.
He stressed that procedural actions have been completed, including the FIR registration and the presentation of charges to the Court of First Instance, together with ensuring a mutual legal assistance agreement with Kenya to facilitate investigation.
After a review, Judge Minhas recalled the intervention of the Apex court, with a five -members bank that initiated supervision in December 2022 to guarantee an independent and impartial investigation.
He stressed that the creation of the SJIT was under the directive of the Supreme Court, with a continuous supervision of the Apex Court.
“The matter related to the tragic murder of the journalist Arshad Sharif is currently Sub Judice before the Honorable Supreme Court of Pakistan,” Judge Minhas said in the written order. “Consequently, this Court is restricted to issue any directive … since doing so would invest the jurisdiction of the Apex court.”
While dismissing the requests, the court granted the partial relief of the petitioners. He ordered the Federal Government and the SJIT to keep the petitioners “duly informed about all developments in the ongoing investigation.”
The court also ordered the State to provide petitioners copies of all reports and findings and inform them about future progress.
The ruling concluded that the petitioners “were not without remedy” and could bring their concerns directly to the Supreme Court.
Posted in Dawn, August 30, 2025
