Arshad Sharif was killed by police after he and his driver allegedly breached a roadblock.
Senior journalist Arshad Sharif shot dead in ‘mistaken identity’ case: Kenyan media. Senior journalist and anchorperson Arshad Sharif was shot dead by the Kenyan police Sunday night in a “mistaken identity” case while travelling to Nairobi from the country’s Magadi town, Kenyan newspaper The Star reported citing law enforcement officials.
“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,” a police officer told The Star.
Later, the Chairperson of the Independent Policing Oversight Authority, Kenya Anne Makori held a press conference and confirmed that on the evening of October 23, a Pakistani journalist, named Arshad Muhammad Sharif, 50, was shot dead by the Kenyan police within the limits of Kajiado County.
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“Our Rapid Response team has already been dispatched to the site of the incident,” she said, adding that a probe related to the incident is underway and that the Independent Policing Oversight Authority will carry out a transparent investigation into the killing of Sharif.
A press statement was also released by the Office of the Inspector-General National Police Service in Nairobi, Kenya, in which details related to the incident were provided.
“NPS regrets to announce an incident last night along Kwenia farm/ Kamukuru maram road with Magadi, Kajiado, where a foreign national namely Arshad Muhammad Sharif, aged 50, was fatally wounded by a police officer while a passenger in a motor vehicle KDG 200M. At the time of the incident, the deceased was in the company of his brother namely Khurram Ahmed.”
“Incident follows a circulation from Pangani Police of a stolen motor vehicle. The officers trailing the motor vehicle towards Magadi alerted police in Magadi who erected a road barrier,” the statement added.
“Deceased’s motor vehicle came upon the police barrier which they drove through. It is then they were shot at, fatally injuring late Arshad Muhammad Sharif.”
“National Police Service regrets this unfortunate incident. Competent authorities are currently investigating the incident for appropriate action. The Ag. inspector-General on behalf of the Service condoles with the family and friends of the deceased.”
On Monday morning, Sharif’s wife Javeria Siddiqui took to Twitter and confirmed the news of his demise, acknowledging that her husband was shot in Kenya.
Before the confirmation from his wife, reports were doing rounds that Sharif had died in an accident.
Sharif was previously associated with ARY News and had gone to Dubai after resigning from the channel. Before going to Kenya, he was spotted in London a few days back after arriving from Dubai.
IHC issues notice to interior, foreign ministries
Earlier today, a petition was filed in the Islamabad High Court (IHC) for the formation of a panel to ascertain the facts behind Sharif’s death.
Petitioner Barrister Shoaib Razzaq sought the formation of a commission to determine under which circumstances Sharif had fled the country. He also urged the court to issue orders to bring the body of the journalist back to Pakistan.
During the hearing, IHC Chief Justice Athar Minallah asked the petitioner where the body of the journalist was currently. At this, the judge was told by the lawyer that it was in Nairobi, Kenya.
Following this, the judge issued notices to the interior and foreign secretaries. He also ordered officials from both ministries to meet the journalist’s family and submit a report by tomorrow.
Imran Khan demands judicial inquiry
In his condolence message to the aggrieved family, PTI Chairman Imran Khan said he was shocked at the brutal murder of Arshad Sharif who paid the ultimate price for speaking the truth.
“He [Arshad Sharif] had to leave the country and be in hiding abroad but he continued to speak the truth on social media, exposing the powerful. Today the entire nation mourns his death.”
The former premier said that a proper judicial investigation must be instituted to examine his own statements plus evidence that other sources have.
“We have descended into a state of brutality, unknown in civilised society, indulged in by the powerful against those who dare to criticise and expose wrongdoings.”
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