The 49-year-old journalist, who fled Pakistan in August after a number of circumstances had been filed towards him for criticising the army, was shot lifeless in Kenya.
A outstanding Pakistani investigative journalist essential of the nation’s highly effective army has been killed in Kenya almost two months after he left Pakistan.
“I misplaced good friend, husband and my favorite journalist right now, as per police he was shot in Kenya,” Javeria Siddique tweeted about her husband Arshad Sharif’s dying on Sunday night time.
The 49-year-old journalist fled the nation in August to keep away from arrest after he was slapped with a number of circumstances, together with sedition costs over an interview with Shahbaz Gill – an in depth aide of former prime minister Imran Khan – throughout which Gill made feedback deemed offensive to the army.
Alleging harassment by state establishments as effectively threats to his life he moved to Dubai in August and later relocated to Kenya.
The channel ARY for which Sharif labored for the final eight years was briefly taken off air in August for airing “false, hateful and seditious” content material. The channel introduced late August it was parting methods with the journalist, who was one among its high prime-time information anchors.
Pakistan’s Ministry of Overseas Affairs expressed its “unhappiness” at Arshad Sharif’s dying, including within the assertion stated that they had been in contact with Kenyan officers relating to the matter.
The ministry confirmed that Pakistan’s envoy to Kenya together with embassy officers had recognized the physique on the Chiromo Funeral Home in Nairobi and at the moment are awaiting additional procedures and a police report.
“The Excessive Fee will facilitate expeditious repatriation of mortal stays of Mr. Sharif in coordination with the host authorities,” the assertion learn.
Kenyan media has quoted native police officers who stated the capturing was a case of “mistaken id”.
Confirming the incident, Bruno Shioso, spokesman for Kenya’s Nationwide Police Service, instructed Al Jazeera that native authorities are at the moment investigating the homicide.
“Our competent authorities are at the moment investigating and might’t remark additional than that at current. We will additionally challenge a preliminary assertion in the end,” he stated.
Kenyan newspaper The Star reported that the automobile wherein Sharif was travelling was fired upon after it didn't cease at a roadblock on the Nairobi-Magadi freeway.
The Islamabad Excessive Court docket has issued discover to authorities to current them with a report relating to the circumstances of the dying on the earliest.
Sharif, who was as soon as thought of near Pakistan’s highly effective army institution, became a fierce critic after the removing of former Prime Minister Khan’s authorities in April.
Shocked on the brutal homicide of Arshad Sharif who paid the final word worth for talking the reality – his life. He needed to depart the nation & be in hiding overseas however he continued to talk the reality on social media, exposing the highly effective. Right now the whole nation mourns his dying.
— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) October 24, 2022
Demand for inquiry
After the information of Sharif’s dying emerged on social media early on Monday, condolences poured in from all quarters.
Pakistan President Arif Alvi, who awarded Sharif with one among Pakistan’s high civilian awards in 2019, tweeted his condolences and stated his dying was an important loss to journalism and Pakistan.
Shehbaz Sharif, the Pakistani prime minister, additionally expressed his shock on the dying of the journalist.
“I'm deeply saddened by the surprising information of journalist Arshad Sharif’s tragic dying. Might Allah SWT grant him a spot in Heaven. My deep condolences and prayers for the bereaved household,” he tweeted on Monday morning.
The Human Rights Fee of Pakistan demanded a direct inquiry into Sharif’s dying.
“An extended, grim document of violent ways to silence journalists explains why the reported homicide of journalist Arshad Sharif in Kenya has despatched shock waves by means of the journalist neighborhood. The federal government should pursue a direct, clear inquiry into the circumstances of his dying,” the organisation stated in an announcement.
Pakistan has a historical past of media suppression and violence towards journalists.
Final month the US expressed its concern over press freedoms in Pakistan after Pakistani authorities in August briefly blocked the protection of ARY, which is seen as sympathetic to former PM Khan.
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