Arshad Sharif case nears closure as widow voices frustration

 JournalismPakistan.com |  Published: 15 January 2026 |  JP Staff Report

The Federal Constitutional Court indicated it may soon close suo motu proceedings into Arshad Sharif's killing as a commission continues investigations and a Pakistan-Kenya MLA agreement could allow investigators to visit the scene. His widow voiced frustration.

Summary

ISLAMABAD — The Federal Constitutional Court indicated on Wednesday that it may soon bring the long-running suo motu proceedings in the murder case of Pakistani journalist Arshad Sharif to a close, but his widow’s public statement underscored deep frustration over perceived lack of justice nearly three years after his killing.

The hearing was presided over by Justice Aamer Farooq, who signalled that the court would issue an appropriate order to conclude the case and may seek written submissions before finalising its decision. The court noted that the investigation has been slow and that determining how to proceed remains a central issue, given that proceedings were transferred from the Supreme Court to the FCC under recent constitutional amendments.

Court discussion on the investigation progress

During the hearing, counsel for Sharif’s widow, Javeria Siddique, informed the court that a commission formed based on the suo motu notice was still investigating the case and that the Kenyan court had ruled in their favour, directing a formal investigation into the killing rather than treating it as an accident. The Additional Attorney General told the bench that a Mutual Legal Assistance agreement signed between Pakistan and Kenya in September will allow a Pakistani investigation team to visit the crime scene once cooperation from Kenyan authorities is secured.

Siddique, who has been outspoken about the slow pace of justice, posted on X that she had attended the hearing with the hope that justice would finally be served. She said that there was no discussion with the Kenyan government about accountability, no accused had been brought from Kenya through Interpol, and there had been no investigation involving accused persons in Pakistan. She added that the case seems to be heading toward its conclusion without those steps being taken. Her remarks reflect mounting frustration among Sharif’s supporters and family over delays.

Background on Sharif's murder and investigation

Arshad Sharif, a prominent Pakistani investigative journalist, was shot and killed by Kenyan police on October 23, 2022, while he was living in self‑exile. Kenyan authorities initially described the incident as a case of mistaken identity, but his family and independent investigators have challenged that narrative, and a fact‑finding report concluded the murder was a planned assassination involving transnational elements.

Despite that report and subsequent legal action in both Kenya and Pakistan, progress toward accountability has been limited. In Kenya, courts have engaged with petitions brought by Sharif’s widow and journalist organisations over failure to investigate and prosecute police officers involved in the killing.

Analysis of regional implications

The case highlights enduring challenges in cross‑border investigations involving journalists’ deaths and the limitations of legal cooperation between states. The slow pace of investigation and unresolved questions about accountability have drawn criticism from media freedom advocates, legal experts, and members of Sharif’s family. The outcome of the FCC proceedings could set a precedent for how Pakistan’s judiciary handles extraterritorial deaths of its citizens and international legal cooperation. The frustration voiced by Siddique underscores broader concerns about the effectiveness of institutional responses to attacks on journalists and the rule of law.

PHOTO: Image courtesy of Javeria Siddique via X

KEY POINTS:

• Federal Constitutional Court signalled it may issue an order to conclude the suo motu case.
• Investigation progress described as slow; proceedings were transferred from the Supreme Court to the FCC under constitutional amendments.
• A commission formed from the suo motu notice continues its probe and a Kenyan court directed a formal investigation.
• A Pakistan-Kenya Mutual Legal Assistance agreement could permit Pakistani investigators to visit the crime scene once cooperation is secured.
• Widow Javeria Siddique attended the hearing and publicly expressed frustration at the delayed pace of justice.