Arshad Sharif's mother writes letter to CJP, requests formation of judicial commission to investigate son’s killing

Islamabad: The mother of slain journalist Arshad Sharif on Wednesday wrote a letter to Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Umar Ata Bandial with request to form a high-powered judicial commission to probe her son’s murder.

Sharif was gunned down under "mysterious circumstances" in Kenya allegedly by the local police on the night of October 23.

Later, the Kenya police issued an official police statement and expressed “regrets on the unfortunate incident”.

The request to form the commission has come at the time when a two-member investigation team visited Kenya to gather circumstantial evidence. 

On Monday, the federal cabinet, on the request of the Ministry of Defence, also approved the constitution of a three-member commission led by Justice Abdul Shakoor Paracha and comprising Additional Inspector General of Police Usman Anwar and Hamid to “inquire into the facts” of the death.

Sharif’s mother Riffat Ara Alvi, in the letter, has alleged that the real reasons of the case are being concealed and must be brought to light.

She further said the Kenyan police had changed its stance on the death “three to four times”.

She further alleged that the government had “pressured and compelled” the UAE government to expel Sharif.