Justice Paracha refuses to head commission to probe Arshad Sharif's death.

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.

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