A veteran Pakistani anchorperson Arshad Sharif died in Kenya reportedly after being shot as her bereaved widow Javeria Siddique confirmed early on Monday morning in a tweet.
“I lost friend, husband and my favourite journalist @arsched today, as per police he was shot in Kenya. Respect our privacy and in the name of breaking pls don’t share our family pics, personal details and his last pictures from hospital. Remember us in ur prayers”, Javeria Siddique tweeted.
Was it a natural death or a result of any external reason – responses over these questions required the concerned authorities of both the countries’ findings.
Foreign Office Spokesperson Asim Iftikhar has been reported saying Pakistan’s High Commission in Kenya was ascertaining information from the authorities. However, authorities in both countries are yet to confirm the journalist’s death and the circumstances surrounding it. Some Pakistani media outlets had initially what is npp steroid 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.
Sharif, who was a fierce critic of the incumbent government and the country’s establishment, had left Pakistan in August 2022 into self-exile in London after criminal cases were launched against him under sedition charges in various cities police stations.
During his stay in London, he went to Kenya and found killed. How and who killed him – was it a natural death or a result of any external reason – responses over these questions required the concerned authorities of both the countries’ findings.
Pertinently mention that Arshad Sharif’s father Commander Muhammad Sharif died of a heart attack at the Armed Forces Institute of Cardiology in May 2011. His younger brother, Major Ashraf Sharif was killed when his car veered off the road on his way to attend the funeral of their father in May 2011.
IHCBA seeks judicial probe into death of Arshad Sharif:
While expressing deep sorrow and grief over the sad demise of Arshad Sharif on Monday Islamabad High Court Bar Association (IHCBA) President Shoaib Shaheen sought judicial inquiry into untoward death.
Shaheen maintained Arshad Sharif always fulfilled his journalistic duties without fear and favour terming the happening of Sharif’s death in mysterious circumstances. He said the IHCBA urged for judicial probe into the matter in the interest of justice.
Expressing deep condolences and prayers for the bereaved family, Secretary IHCBA Saad Ahmed Rajpoot and Joint Secretary Muhammad Sohail Khurshid termed the incident very sad and unfortunate.
RIUJ to stage protest against killing of Arshad Sharif today:
Rawalpindi Islamabad Union of Journalists (RIUJ) Monday has decided to organize a protest against the killing of Arshad Sharif in Kenya, stated in a press release.
RIUJ President Shakeel Ahmed and General Secretary Siddique Anzar informed the Union will organize the protest today at 4:40pm outside the National Press Club. They urged the journalists and civil society actors to participate in the protest.
IPOA opens investigations into shooting of Arshad Sharif:
Kenya’s state owned broadcasting service known as Kenya Broadcasting Corporation (KBC) reported on Monday that Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) has dispatched a Rapid Response team to Kajiado following the alleged ‘mistaken identity’ shooting of renowned Pakistani journalist Arshad Sharif.
Ann Makori, IPOA’s Chairperson has been cited saying the authority has started looking into the matter and will recommend prosecution of those found capable. Makori disclosed that the incident happened in Tinga market Kajiado county on Sunday at around 10.00PM . “Our Rapid Response team has been dispatched to look into the matter,” said Makori during a press briefing on Monday. 
KBC reported that Sharif was allegedly shot dead along the Nairobi-Magadi highway after the vehicle he was travelling in was flagged down by police at a roadblock. Details surrounding the incident remain scanty and the police are yet to issue an official statement on the matter.
Mistaken Identity:
English Daily ‘The Star’ Narobi’s Chief Crime Reporter Cyrus Ombathi filed a story for the paper saying a senior Pakistani journalist was shot dead Sunday night along the Nairobi-Magadi highway in what police termed as a mistaken identity.
Ombathi narrated that Arshad Sharif was shot in the head and killed by police after he and his driver allegedly breached a roadblock that had been set up to check on motor vehicles using the route. They were driving from Magadi town to Nairobi when they were flagged down at a roadblock being manned by a group of police officers, police said.
