Arshad Sharif’s killing case: ARY CEO Salman Iqbal calls for UN-led probe

The CEO of ARY Digital Network Salman Iqbal demanded UN-led investigation into the martyred senior journalist Arshad Sharif’s killing in Kenya after expressing disbelief in the government-led inquiry.

ARY CEO Salman Iqbal issued a detailed statement on Twitter yesterday, saying, “Salman Iqbal 28 October 2022 No words can express how shocked and heartbroken I am by the brutal killing of my brother Arshad Sharif. Arshad’s death is an immense loss to all of Pakistan and to journalism globally. My thoughts are with his family and all those who are mourning him. Since the beginning of my career I have always done my utmost to protect my people, and they can vouch for this.”

Evidence of threats to slain Arshad Sharif’s life comes to light

“It is not easy to be a journalist in Pakistan. All of us face various threats and it is my job to mitigate them. Over the years, we have lost many colleagues in our country’s war against terrorism, and we continue to support their families to this day,” Iqbal said.

“We knew that the threats to Arshad’s life were legitimate. He repeatedly appealed in writing to all relevant sectors of government for protection. Instead of receiving help, he was targeted with cases of sedition, multiple FIRS and arrest warrants, which compelled him to make the difficult choice to leave Pakistan. As friends and colleagues we stood by him and his choices, so following standard procedure our offices helped him with his travel plans.”

“Since when is helping a friend a crime? The government has been running a smear campaign against me since coming into power in April 2022, calling me a gold smuggler and arms dealer, among other things. It started with Maryam Nawaz, and the campaign continues under current government ministers. The FBR, FIA, PEMRA and SECP have been weaponized to politically attack me, with numerous FIRS, arrest warrants and a sedition case issued against me. These unwarranted attacks on me and the persecution of journalists by the PMLN government have left me fearing for my safety and unable to return to Pakistan for the past six months.”

My statement. #ArshadSharifShaheed @UNHumanRights #pfuj pic.twitter.com/7D2o58ng7t

— Salman Iqbal ARY (@Salman_ARY) October 28, 2022

“The wild and baseless allegations recently leveled against me by the Interior Minister in relation to Arshad’s killing are a continuation of this campaign. Let me say categorically that I had no involvement whatsoever in the gruesome act against my brother. I am sad and shocked that no commission has yet been formed and instead the government has been holding multiple press conferences at which outlandish insinuations have been thrown around implying that I am part of a conspiracy.”

It concluded, “It is disgusting to try and politicize his death in this way. It has been stated that I should be included in the investigation into the killing of Arshad. I do not believe in the independence of the investigation being undertaken by the present PMLN government but I will answer any questions put to me. I am calling for an independent investigation overseen by the UN Human Rights Office, and I will of course provide my full cooperation to any such investigation seeking to get to the full truth behind the killing of Arshad Sharif with a view to bringing those responsible to justice.”

Earlier, the United Nations 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.”

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.

After Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan, the family of the slain senior journalist Arshad Sharif termed his death ‘target killing’.

The federal government announced holding a judicial inquiry into the journalist’s killing case and formed a two-member committee that left for Kenya to collect evidence.

The slain journalist was laid to rest on October 27 in Islamabad.