Arshad Sharif murder case: Rana Sanaullah levels allegations against Salman Iqbal
Rana Sanaullah has levelled serious allegations against ARY Digital Network's CEO Salman Iqbal in connection with the senior journalist Arshad Sharif's murder case.
ISLAMABAD: Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah has levelled serious allegations against ARY Digital Network’s CEO Salman Iqbal in connection with the senior journalist Arshad Sharif’s murder case.
Rana Sanaullah claimed that [Head of Operations – ARY Digital Network] Tariq Wasi telephoned Waqar in Kenyan capital Nairobi to make online visa arrangements for Arshad Sharif.
He made the statement while talking to a TV show hosted by anchorperson Kamran Shahid on Dunya News.
سارے ثبوت اور اشارے سلمان اقبال کی طرف جاتے ھیں pic.twitter.com/YW8oixSerE
— Pervaiz Sandhila (@chsandhilaa) December 7, 2022
He added that Wasi was ordered by Salman Iqbal to make arrangements for Arshad Sharif and evidence of these claims are present.
The interior minister also alleged that Sharif had stayed at Iqbal’s residence in Dubai. He said that Sharif was initially staying at a hotel in Dubai but he felt that someone is watching his movements. Later, he shifted to Salman Iqbal’s residence in Dubai.
On the other hand, Salman Iqbal asserted that the report, prepared by the fact-finding committee on killing of senior journalist Arshad Sharif, lacks facts, according to ARY News.
In a statement issued today, the ARY Digital Network CEO noted that most of the information provided by him to the investigators was missing from the report – prepared by the fact-finding committee.
— Salman Iqbal ARY (@Salman_ARY) December 6, 2022
Salman Iqbal said that the report manifests the partiality of the probe committee as it leaves out the information provided by him which “goes against their narrative”.
He stressed the need to uncover the facts and the complete truth about the gruesome murder of the journalist, while reiterating his demand for an independent inquiry from the Supreme Court (SC) of Pakistan.
Fact-finding committee’s report
Yesterday, After the Supreme Court’s (SC) suo motu notice regarding the killing of senior journalist Arshad Sharif, a 592-page report of the investigation committee has been submitted to the SC.
The report stated that Arshad Sharif was killed as part of a plan. GSUK officials from Kenya were used for
The investigative committee set up to probe into the killing of journalist Arshad Sharif has submitted its fact-finding report to the Supreme Court (SC) under which startling revelations have come out. It stated that Sharif was killed as part of a plan.
It stated that the Kenyan police did not provide any assistance in the probe while the role of many foreign organisations in the case is important. The role of Arshad Sharif’s host Khurram and Waqar in Kenya is important and requires further investigation. It also stated that Waqar Ahmed did not give a satisfactory answer to the committee’s questions.
A two-member investigation committee had visited Kenya to gather facts, but the committee initially said that the report should not be considered complete findings.
The report stated that Arshad Sharif’s reason for leaving Pakistan was to register cases in various districts, while it is also highly likely that he was asked to leave the country by the United Arab Emirates (UAE) authorities. Waqar took Arshad Sharif’s iPhone and handed over the iPad to the police.
The report said that Kenyan GSU personnel were used in the killing who might be facing financial or some other kind of pressure.
The fact-finding report prepared by Director FIA Athar Waheed and Deputy DG IB Omar Shahid Hamid. The investigation team’s action in Kenya and UAE is part of the report. The vehicle used in the Arshad Sharif murder case, maps, crime scene data were also part of the report.
All the events that happened in Kenya from October 23 till Arshad Sharif’s murder are part of the report, while the ballistics report of weapons used in Arshad Sharif’s murder case is also included in the fact-finding report.
Khurram was driving Arshad Sharif’s car, there is a contradiction in Khurram’s statements, Arshad Sharif had also been shot in the back. While there is no hole of a bullet found on the vehicle’s seat. A bullet in Sharif’s back makes the incident suspicious, it stated.
The report said there was a huge discrepancy between the statements of the Kenyan police and the GSU and the statements recorded by the Kenyan authorities are not reliable. The assassination was executed with complete planning and it was not a mistake but a planned killing
All the travel records of Arshad Sharif have also been made a part of the fact-finding report, while the review report of Arshad Sharif’s mobile phone, devices, WhatsApp and email has also been made a part of the fact-finding report.
Motives for forcing senior journalist to leave Pakistan, FIRs registration and threat alerts issued by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) CTD are also part of the report.
In the main points of the fact-finding reports, it is stated that Arshad Sharif left the country due to the registration of criminal cases in various districts.
It is possible that Arshad Sharif left Dubai under the pressure of the UAE authorities. Authorities and the Aussie training camp were used for financial or other reasons. The investigators also found traces of Waqar’s contacts with Kenya’s National Intelligence Service, the police and international agencies.
The report added that Waqar’s links with Kenyan and international agencies suggest that more foreign actors may be involved, adding that Khurram’s statements about being in the driving seat with Arshad Sharif contradict logic and facts.
In the report submitted to the Supreme Court, it is said that there is no bullet mark on the car’s seat of Arshad Sharif, the bullet exited from the right side of the senior journalist’s chest but did not hit the seat. It added that the sitting position of Arshad Sharif and the position of the bullet are not relevant.
It also stated that the Kenya police’s claim of mistaken identity is full of contradictions and the position of the GSU police officials is unbelievable.
According to the report, Arshad Sharif’s murder was planned and foreign elements were involved, however, there was no concrete evidence of violence before Arshad Sharif’s murder.
