After Imran Khan, family terms Arshad Sharif’s death ‘target killing’
After Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan, the family of the slain senior journalist Arshad Sharif termed his death 'target killing'.
After Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan, the family of the slain senior journalist Arshad Sharif termed his death ‘target killing’.
The body of the slain journalist Arshad Sharif was flown to Islamabad early Wednesday via a private airline plane. The body was received by the family, journalists and political leaders at the Islamabad airport.
Senior journalist, TV anchor and YouTuber Arshad Sharif was killed in Kenya’s capital Nairobi on Sunday night. Arshad Sharif is one of the renowned investigative journalists of Pakistan who covered major political events in the country for national and international media outlets.
Kenyan police said that the journalist was shot in the head and killed by police after he and his driver allegedly breached a roadblock. The police claimed that Sharif was shot dead in a ‘mistaken identity’ case.
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The funeral prayer of Arshad Sharif late will be offered at Faisal Mosque Islamabad while he will be laid to rest on Thursday in the federal capital.
Wife Javeria Siddique video message
In a video message, Sharif’s wife Javeria Siddique said that police confirmed her husband’s assassination and it was a targeted killing. “Please, highlight this and plead for justice for Arshad. If he passes away today then I and you will be the next.”
Siddique appealed to the people for respecting their privacy by not sharing pictures of their children but only broadcasting or publishing interviews and photos of the elder members of the slain journalist’s family. She requested people to pray to Allah Almighty for the rest of the departed soul. “He was a very nice and generous person and we have lost him.”
Javeria Siddique requested the Kenyan police to expedite the probe. She expressed serious reservations over the United Arab Emirates (UAE) authorities for asking Arshad Sharif late to leave their soil and termed the move a crime which led to his death and became a victim of terrorism. “Journalist is not a crime. Please, raise your voice.”
Investigation team formed
The federal government formed a three-member investigation team to probe into the murder of the renowned journalist. The investigation team will also visit Kenya to collect evidence.
A notification was also issued by the interior ministry regarding the constitution of the three-member team headed by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) Director-General Athar Waheed.
The probe team members include Deputy Director-General (DG) of the Intelligence Bureau (IB) Omar Shahid Hamid and Colonel Saad Ahmed.
UN directs a thorough inquiry
The United Nations has urged Kenya to conduct a thorough investigation into the mysterious death of a Pakistani journalist, Arshad Sharif, and share the findings with the public.
“I saw this tragic report of his death. I think the circumstances need to be investigated thoroughly, and the Kenyan authorities said they would,” Stéphane Dujarric, Spokesman for the UN Secretary-General António Guterres told journalists in New York.
He also underlined the importance of “the results of the investigation being shared quickly.”
It is pertinent to mention here that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had also announced to hold a judicial inquiry into the senior journalist’s murder.
