Journalist Arshad Sharif died in Kenya reportedly after being shot, his wife Javeria Siddique confirmed early on Monday morning.
“I lost friend, husband and my favorite journalist [Arshad Sharif] today, as per police he was shot in Kenya,” she tweeted.
Journalist Arshad Sharif died
in Kenya reportedly after being shot, his wife Javeria Siddique confirmed early on Monday morning.
“I lost friend, husband and my favorite journalist [Arshad Sharif] today, as per police he was shot in Kenya,” she tweeted.
Foreign Office Spokesperson Asim Iftikhar said Pakistan’s High Commission in Kenya was ascertaining information from the authorities.
Authorities in both countries are yet to confirm the journalist’s death and the circumstances surrounding it.
Some Pakistani media outlets had initially stated that Sharif was shot dead but later said he died in an accident.
However
Sharif’s wife later tweeted that the journalist was shot dead in Kenya.
Meanwhile, Kenyan media quoted the local police as saying that Sharif was shot dead by police in a case of “mistaken identity”.
It said the incident took place on Sunday night along the Nairobi-Magadi highway. Journalist Arshad Sharif shot dead in Kenya
Sharif, who was a fierce critic of the incumbent government and the country’s establishment, had left Pakistan earlier this year after sedition cases were registered against him in different cities.
IHC instructs officials to meet Sharif’s family
Islamabad High Court (IHC) Chief Justice Athar Minallah, while hearing a petition seeking an inquiry into Sharif’s death
, instructed representatives from the foreign and interior ministries to immediately meet the journalist’s family.
The court also issued notices to the federal and interior secretaries and directed their respective ministries to submit a report tomorrow.
The petition filed by Advocate Shoaib Razzaq, a copy of which is available with Dawn.com, requested the court to order the formation of a judicial commission to investigate why the journalist was forced to flee Pakistan, and later the United Arab Emirates.
“The judicial commission may also be directed to liaison with national agencies and the Kenyan agencies and probe into the heinous act which had led to the unwarranted cold-blooded murder of Arshad Sharif,” the petition stated.
It also requested the court to issue directives for bringing the journalist’s body back to Pakistan. Journalist Arshad Sharif shot dead in Kenya
Condolences
Condolences poured in from colleagues and politicians on the journalist’s death.
President Dr. Arif Alvi termed Sharif’s death a loss for journalism and Pakistan. “May his soul rest in peace and may his family, which includes his followers, have the strength to bear this loss,” Alvi said.
Earlier this year, police had booked Sharif, ARY Digital Network President and CEO Salman Iqbal, Head of News and Current Affairs Ammad Yousaf,
anchorperson Khawar Ghumman and a producer for sedition over a controversial interview by PTI leader Dr. Shahbaz Gill broadcast on the channel on Aug 8.
A day later, the Interior Ministry canceled the channel’s no-objection certificate citing “adverse reports from agencies” as the reason behind the decision — a decision that was later reversed after an order of the Sindh High Court.
The FIRs, which were registered in Hyderabad and Karachi, included Sections 131 (abetting mutiny, or attempting to seduce a soldier,
sailor or airman from his duty), 153 (wantonly giving provocation with intent to cause riot), and 505 (statements conducing to public mischief) of the Pakistan Penal Code . Journalist Arshad Sharif shot dead in Kenya
The FIRs referred to Sharif’s comments in a conversation with journalist Matiullah Jan on his YouTube channel wherein he allegedly “disrespected”
state institutions and uttered statements that attempted to “spread hate in the army and create a hateful atmo.sphere”
Cases against Sharif
Earlier this year, police had booked Sharif, ARY Digital Network President, and CEO Salman Iqbal,
Head of News and Current Affairs Ammad Yousaf, anchorperson Khawar Ghumman,
and a producer for sedition over a controversial
interview by PTI leader Dr. Shahbaz Gill broadcast on the channel on Aug 8.
A day later, the Interior Ministry canceled the channel’s no-objection certificate citing “adverse reports from agencies” as
Another FIR in Dadu, under PPC Sections 131, 153 and 505, mentioned Sharif and ARY News journalist Sabir Shakir.
The FIR said that “derogatory language” regarding state institutions was used in a conversation between the two and analogies were drawn to Mir Jafar and Mir Sadiq. It added that the two were inciting people against the army and state institutions.
Subsequently, Sharif left the country.
The ARY Network later announced it had “parted ways” with Sharif without
citing a specific reason but stating that it expects its employees’ conduct on social media to be
PML-N leader Hina Pervaiz Butt extended heartfelt condolences
on the demise of the journalist, while PTI leader Ali Zaidi also expressed his grief on the death of Sharif.
PTI chairman and former prime minister Imran Khan expressed his condolences over the death of journalist Arshad Sharif.
Politicians, journalists condole
Following the news of Sharif’s death, condolences started pouring in from across the country.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed sadness over the “shocking news of journalist Arshad Sharif’s tragic death”.
“May Allah SWT grant him a place in Heaven. My deep condolences and prayers to the bereaved family,
FO in contact with Kenyan authorities: FM Bilawal
Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari expressed sorrow over the death of the journalist and
said that the Pakistani government is in contact with Kenyan authorities regarding the matter.
“The unbelievable incident of journalist Arshad Sharif’s murder is extremely shocking and an irreparable loss to the journalist community of Pakistan.”
“I offer my condolences to journalist Arshad Sharif’s family, journalist community, and his fans,” said the foreign minister.
Mistaken identity’ case: Kenyan police
Kenyan newspaper The Star reported Sharif was fatally shot in the head
by the city’s police over an alleged violation of a roadblock.
“We had an incident of shooting, which turned out to be a case of mistaken identity involving a journalist. We will release more information later,” The Star quoted a police officer as saying.
As per the publication, the police said that personnel at the manned roadblock had received information to intercept a car similar to the
one Sharif and his driver were using following a carjacking incident in Nairobi in which a child was allegedly taken, hostage.
The Star reported that Sharif was asked to stop for identification but he allegedly drove past the roadblock. This led to a brief chase and shooting that left the journalist dead, it added.
The Kenyan publication said that Sharif’s driver was injured and taken to hospital
The police headquarters have said that Kenya’s Independent Policing Oversight Authority will investigate the case. Meanwhile, a senior police officer shared that a comprehensive statement will be released later.
The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) termed it a “long, grim record of violent tactics to silence journalists”.