Leaking of photos of Arshad Sharif’s body creates controversy

The leaking of photos of the slain journalist Arshad Sharif’s body and his autopsy report created another controversy as they confirmed the inhumane torture before his assassination.

Dunya News senior anchorperson Kamran Shahid had aired the post-mortem report of the martyred senior journalist Arshad Sharif and the photos of the torture on the journalist’s body in his TV programme.

After the protest of the heirs of the martyr and the reaction on social media, Kamran Shahid removed the pictures of the deceased and the video of the program from his Twitter handle.

Dunya News anchor Kamran Shahid aired the details of the post-mortem report of slain anchorperson Arshad Sharif, who was killed in Kenya, and the photos of the alleged torture marks in his prime time show “Frontline”.

Arshad Sharif’s assassination: Who gave autopsy report to anchorperson Kamran Shahid?

He claimed that Sharif was brutally tortured for 2.5 to 3 hours before he was killed in Kenya. His fingernails were pulled and his fingers were broken and then he was shot at close range in the back of the head.

Arshad Sharif’s post-mortem report and the photos of the deceased went viral on social media after it was aired on Kamran Shahid’s program, upon which his widow, Javeria Siddique protested and appealed not to share the photos of the deceased on social media.

It is important to mention here that the post-mortem reports of Arshad Sharif prepared in Kenya and Pakistan were not yet been provided to his relatives. Arshad Sharif’s mother filed an application in the Islamabad High Court (IHC) to obtain the autopsy reports.

Javeria Siddique’s interview

While talking to Kamran Khan’s TV show on Dunya News, Siddique said that the autopsy report was not yet handed over to the family and the leaking of Sharif’s photos gave a new trauma to them. She said neither the Pakistani government nor the Kenyan authorities were cooperating with them to ascertain the details of Sharif’s death.

Commenting on the leaking of the photos, she said that privacy of all individuals should be maintained. She added that the anchorperson did not take the family into confidence before airing the photos of Sharif’s body.

Kenyan journalist’s statement

Yesterday, Kenyan investigative journalist Brian Obuya termed the claims regarding the duration of torture ‘disinformation’ and ‘sensation’.

He tweeted, “In Pakistan, there is renewed DISINFORMATION and SENSATION over the brutal murder of #ArshadSharif, that is threatening the credibility of the probe. Sections of Media are reporting that the Journalist was TORTURED for THREE HOURS. That “finding” is NOT SCIENTIFIC.”

In Pakistan, there is renewed DISINFORMATION and SENSATION over the brutal murder of #ArshadSharif, that is threatening the credibility of the probe. Sections of Media are reporting that the Journalist was TORTURED for THREE HOURS. That “finding” is NOT SCIENTIFIC.

— Brian Obuya (@ItsBrianObuya) November 10, 2022

He further said in another tweet, “Reports allege that #ArshadSharif was tortured for three hours. While an autopsy can reveal torture, it cannot tell “Duration of the torture,” such an attempt makes it unbelievable. Part of Sharif’s finger nails were retained during first autopsy for DNA. As shown in the excerpt.”

Reports allege that #ArshadSharif was tortured for three hours. While an autopsy can reveal torture, it cannot tell “Duration of the torture,” such an attempt makes it unbelievable. Part of Sharif’s finger nails were retained during first autopsy for DNA. As shown in the excerpt. pic.twitter.com/OUj6hRckv2

— Brian Obuya (@ItsBrianObuya) November 10, 2022