ISLAMABAD: The head of the inquiry commission formed to ascertain facts about the death of senior journalist Arshad Sharif on Sunday refused to proceed with the investigation.

Abdul Shakoor Paracha, a retired judge of the Lahore High Court, was appointed head of a three-member commission formed by the federal cabinet, on the request of the Ministry of Defence, last month.

In a statement, retired Justice Paracha outlined the reasons for his refusal, including dissatisfaction and rejection of commission by Mr Sharif’s mother and her request to the chief justice to set up a judicial commission.

He had reservations over the inclusion of Intelligence Bureau (IB) Deputy Director General Omar Shahid Hamid and absence of a representative of media bodies in the commission.

He said Mr Hamid had already visited Nairobi as part of a first team to probe the death.

He said it was not “legally sustainable” to make Mr Hamid a part of the commission based on his previous findings.

Meanwhile, Mr Paracha said a media representative was necessary so that “justice is not only served but is seen when done”.

He also expressed satisfaction with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s request for a full court commission to investigate the journalist’s killing.

Published in Dawn, November 7th, 2022