ISLAMABAD: Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah said Tuesday slain journalist Arshad Sharif was killed in a target killing incident, as it was a pre-planned murder.

In a press conference Tuesday, the minister revealed that investigating team in Arshad Sharif’s murder case had returned from Kenya. “Information collected till now reveals that he was targeted,” the minister said.

He said that Kenyan police’s claim of ‘mistaken identity’ could not be proved during investigations. “If he (Arshad) was murdered then Waqar and Khurram will also be investigated,” he said. Khurram and Waqas were the last two companions of slain Arshad Sharif, one of them being his driver at the time of death.

“We have decided to request the foreign minister and ambassador to provide the data collected by Kenyan officials.

“Prima facie, it is a targeted murder as the narrative of ‘mistaken identity’ has not been proven […] and there are many doubts,” he said, adding that further information would only emerge after a detailed investigation was conducted.

During his press talk, the interior minister urged provincial governments to fulfill their duties according to law and constitution and take measures to open roads and motorways under their jurisdiction. He said provincial governments of Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa have been reminded in written about their responsibilities. Taking a jibe at PTI Chairman Imran Khan, he said that former Prime Minister had created difficulties for people and his fitna march has been completely rejected by the people.