Arshad Sharif’s killing: Four important questions still unanswered!

The mysterious assassination of Senior journalist, TV anchor and YouTuber Arshad Sharif in the Kenyan capital Nairobi where he was living in self-exile raised four important questions that are still unanswered.

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.

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.

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.

Who killed the journalist?

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.

In renewed statement, a Kenyan media report claimed that an investigation was launched after the injury to one of the police officers involved in the shootout that raised suspicions of other shooters at the scene.

According to the reports, the Kenyan police team had received gunfire from the car carrying Arshad Sharif. They claimed that the first shot was carried out from the vehicle before the police team started the fatal shooting.

Moreover, PTI leader Faisal Vawda also claimed that Sharif was shot in the head from a close range, apparently by someone from inside the vehicle.

Analysts said that the Kenyan police’s statements should be scrutinised to ascertain who killed Sharif on the scene.

Where are Khurram Ahmed and Waqar Ahmed?

Analysts questioned the whereabouts of Khurram Ahmed and Waqar Ahmed after Sharif’s assassination.

The suspicious role of Khurram Ahmed – who was driving the vehicle with the slain senior journalist Arshad Sharif in Nairobi – and his brother Waqar Ahmed was unearthed after he survived a Kenyan police shooting.

A journalist from TRT World, Ali Mustafa posted a Twitter thread regarding the suspicious role of Khurram Ahmed and his brother Waqar Ahmed who owned a shooting range in Kenya.

Arshad Sharif killing case: Suspicious role of Khurram Ahmed, brother unearthed

Ali Mustafa wrote, “Waqar Ahmed and Khurram Ahmed need to be investigated as two key suspects involved in the killing of Arshad Sharif – Waqar especially seems to be the key guy with a Huts and Homes resort near to where the crime happened; he also arranged for Arshad’s body to be flown in haste.”

“BREAKING: Arshad Sharif visited the AMMODUMP shooting range owned by Waqar Ahmed hours before he was killed – the business as a youtube page highlighting its status as a major recce site for security personnel looking to hone their shooting skills.”

“BREAKING 2: Khurram Ahmed, the driver who survived the police shooting is the brother of Waqar Ahmed, the owner of the AMMODUMP shooting range where Arshad was visiting before being killed and where his body was rushed after he was murdered,” he added.

Analysts said that Kenyan police has not caught Khurram Ahmed as yet who was reportedly driving the vehicle carrying the slain journalist. Sources said that even Pakistan High Commissioner in Kenya was not given access to Khurram Ahmed.

Where is post-mortem report?

Analysts raised questions about the existence of Arshad Sharif’s post-mortem report and whether it was performed by Kenyan police or not. They said that it is still unclear whether Sharif’s post-mortem was conducted in Kenya or not. They added if it was performed in Kenya then why the report was not yet released?

Sources said that a doctor from PIMS Islamabad sought the post-mortem report from the Kenyan government but the request was not answered.

Where is Arshad Sharif’s laptop and mobile phone?

Analysts also questioned about the recovered mobile phone and laptop belonging to the slain journalist that could uncover facts about his activities and movements during his self-exile period in Kenya.

They said that the Kenyan government has not provided Sharif’s recovered laptop and mobile phone which increased suspicions over the journalist’s death.