The Pakistani government has requested additional time from the Supreme Court to ratify a mutual legal assistance (MLA) agreement with Kenya concerning the investigation into journalist Arshad Sharif’s murder. During a recent hearing, Additional Attorney General Aamir Rehman informed the court that while the agreement was signed on December 10, 2024, it awaits presidential ratification, expected within a month.Â
The Supreme Court expressed dissatisfaction over the delays, noting that despite the passage of three months since the agreement’s signing, it remains unratified. Justice Hassan Azhar Rizvi questioned the lack of support for Sharif’s family in Kenya, and Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhail suggested the necessity of daily progress reports to expedite the process. The court has directed that the Kenyan High Court’s decision regarding the case be added to the court record and has adjourned the hearing for a month, pending further updates.Â
Arshad Sharif was fatally shot in October 2022 when Kenyan police opened fire on his vehicle, claiming it was a case of mistaken identity. Prior to this incident, Sharif had left Pakistan in August 2022 following multiple sedition charges filed against him in various cities.Â
