The 49-year-old journalist, who fled Pakistan in August after a number of instances have been filed towards him for criticising the army, was shot useless in Kenya.
A distinguished Pakistani investigative journalist crucial of the nation’s highly effective army has been killed in Kenya practically two months after he left Pakistan.
“I misplaced buddy, husband and my favorite journalist right this moment, as per police he was shot in Kenya,” Javeria Siddique tweeted about her husband Arshad Sharif’s loss of life on Sunday evening.
The 49-year-old journalist fled the nation in August to keep away from arrest after he was slapped with a number of instances, together with sedition costs over an interview with Shahbaz Gill – a detailed aide of former prime minister Imran Khan – throughout which Gill made feedback deemed offensive to the army.
Alleging harassment by state establishments as properly threats to his life he moved to Dubai in August and later relocated to Kenya.
The channel ARY for which Sharif labored was briefly taken off air in August for airing “false, hateful and seditious” content material.
ARY, the channel Sharif was related to for the final eight years, announced it was parting methods with the journalist who was one among its prime prime-time information anchors.
Pakistan’s Ministry of International Affairs expressed its “disappointment” at Arshad Sharif’s loss of life, including within the assertion stated that they have 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 taking pictures was a case of “mistaken id”.
Confirming the incident, Bruno Shioso, spokesman for Kenya’s Nationwide Police Service, advised Al Jazeera that native authorities are presently investigating the homicide.
“Our competent authorities are presently investigating and might’t remark additional than that at current. We will additionally difficulty a preliminary assertion sooner or later,” he stated.
Kenyan newspaper The Star reported that the automotive through which 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 loss of life on the earliest.
Sharif, who was as soon as thought-about near Pakistan’s highly effective army institution, become a fierce critic after the removing of former Prime Minister Khan’s authorities in April.
Demand for inquiry
After the information of Sharif’s loss of life 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 prime civilian awards in 2019, tweeted his condolences and stated his loss of life was an important loss to journalism and Pakistan.
Shehbaz Sharif, the Pakistani prime minister, additionally expressed his shock on the loss of life of the journalist.
“I’m deeply saddened by the surprising information of journalist Arshad Sharif’s tragic loss of life. 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 an instantaneous inquiry into Sharif’s loss of life.
“A protracted, grim file 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 an instantaneous, clear inquiry into the circumstances of his loss of life,” the organisation stated in an announcement.
Pakistan has a historical past of media suppression and violence towards journalists.
Final month america 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.