PM asks CJ to form a commission to look into the Imran attack.
argues that an impartial organization is required to lay problems to rest and reestablish public trust in government institutions.
ISLAMABAD: On Tuesday, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif sent two letters to Pakistan’s chief justice asking him to set up judicial commissions to look into the shooting of former Prime Minister Imran Khan during a long march in Wazirabad and the murder of journalist Arshad Sharif in Kenya.
The prime minister has asked CJP Justice Umar Ata Bandial to form judicial commissions made up of all Supreme Court judges who are currently available to look into the shooting incident that occurred during the PTI rally to investigate Sharif’s murder and determine the facts and circumstances surrounding it.
The letter was sent as tensions were still high on Tuesday and the outrage that followed Imran’s shooting incident was still present five days later. Supporters and employees of the PTI have charged the government with planning the murder attempt.
While giving the panel his unconditional support and cooperation in the letters, the premier also highlighted several concerns and encouraged the commission to take them into account when looking into the matter.
In the letter on the shooting at the Wazirabad rally, PM Shehbaz indicated that the federal government believed that, while a criminal investigation was ongoing, an impartial body should look into the incident in order to put things to rest and regain public trust in the state institutions.
First, he asked the CJP to take into account which law enforcement agencies were in charge of guarding the convoy, as well as whether any security protocols and other standard operating procedures had been put in place to secure the convoy and whether they had been followed.
Second, PM Shehbaz questioned the nature of the injuries sustained by the victims and the total number of victims, citing allegations of numerous shooters at the scene and retaliatory gunfire.
Thirdly, the PM asked whether administrative and law enforcement authorities followed the established investigation, evidence gathering, and handling procedures after the incident, and if not, what procedural errors occurred and which administrative, law enforcement, or provincial government functionaries are to blame.
He said, “Fourthly, whether the inquiry into the incident is being purposefully hampered, and if yes, by whom and why.” Fifthly, he stressed that it is important to determine who is accountable in both scenarios, whether the killing was the result of a criminal plot to kill the PTI chairman or a lone gunman.
According to PM Shehbaz’s statement in the letter, Pakistan has been experiencing a significant law and order issue recently. He claimed that the unfortunate shooting at the PTI chairman’s rally in Wazirabad and the subsequent “venomous speeches” of the party’s leadership had sparked a wave of violent protests that had put the safety of everyday citizens in jeopardy and received extensive media coverage both in Pakistan and abroad.
Punjabi authorities were ineffective.
Given that the letters from the premier claimed that no FIR had been filed despite more than 72 hours having passed, it appears that they were prepared before the Wazirabad event.
The Punjab government, which is run by the PIT, has regrettably “failed to adhere to the law and the rules applicable to any investigation following an occurrence of this sort,” the PM said.
The crime scene has not been secured, and the container on which the PTI leadership was hurt has not yet been taken into custody for forensic examination, according to the PM.
The PTI head was not brought to a registered medical-legal facility after the incident; instead, he was taken immediately to a private cancer research hospital, he said.
The premier added that it should be noted that the Punjab government and its functionaries handled the investigation process improperly in the wake of the incident, which is likely to have led to “compromised evidence,” which is directly related to the failure of the provincial law enforcement agencies to adhere to established investigation protocols and which reeks of malevolence.
According to him, the federal government has already written to the provincial administration to express its deep concern over how the situation has been handled. He claimed that miscreants have attacked public buildings, such as the Governor House in Lahore, as well as private properties while being supported by the governments of Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where similar demonstrations were organised.
According to PM Shehbaz, “a defamation campaign has commenced in tandem against state institutions, particularly the Pakistani military forces, who are being accused of plotting, together with the federal government, against the former prime minister.”
PM Shehbaz added in his plea for the judicial panel that it must look into the situation, gather the facts, find the offenders, and assign blame for the tragedy.
He praised the highest court for always playing a crucial role in protecting the constitution and maintaining the rule of law and stated that the current situation poses a serious threat to public safety and jeopardises Pakistan’s national security.
He declared that if the request made in the interest of promoting the cause of the rule of law in the nation is granted, the government will be extremely grateful and will commit to giving the commission its full assistance and cooperation throughout the process.
Case of Arshad Sharif
Regarding the murder of the journalist, PM Shehbaz stated that there have been claims linking the federal government and security services to Sharif’s demise. The federal government was of the opinion that these claims and aspirations were damaging to public perceptions of state institutions and, if not promptly investigated, would result in a long-term decline in public confidence.
The premier stated that after a shooting event in Kenya that tragically resulted in the murder of veteran journalist Arshad Sharif, the government deployed two skilled officers right away to communicate with the Kenyan authorities and conduct their own impartial investigation into the matter.
We are anticipating their report and recommendations, and the law will follow its natural course.
Additionally, it was judged necessary to look into the behaviour of his connections before and after his departure from Pakistan due to the sensitivity of the situation and to investigate several accusations made against the federal government and other state organisations.
As a result, the federal government decided to form an inquiry commission that would be led by a former Lahore High Court judge. He added that, however, before a notification to that effect could be published, the government was made aware that the deceased’s mother had asked the Supreme Court to set up a commission to look into the situation.
According to PM Shehbaz, “multiple inquiries are not desirable, and the Federal Government intends to extend its full support to such a request made by the mother of the deceased,” therefore it would only be proper if the subject was looked into by an impartial organisation.
He has asked the CJP to appoint a panel of judges from the top court to look into this subject of national security and concern and determine the facts and circumstances surrounding M Sharif’s murder. He has also asked the commission to take the following into consideration.
First, the prime minister requested that the commission look into the specifics of Sharif’s departure from Pakistan in August 2022 and the individuals responsible for making that possible.
Second, PM enquired as to if any law enforcement agency or representatives of the federal or provincial governments were aware of any dangers to the journalist who had been killed and, if so, what precautions had been taken.
Thirdly, he explained the circumstances and reasons behind Sharif’s departure from the United Arab Emirates for Kenya. Fourth, he said, what are the details of the shooting that killed Sharif?
Fifth, he urged, was there foul play involved in Sharif’s tragic death in Kenya or was it simply a case of mistaken identity?
