NAIROBI/ISLAMABAD: Kenyan police on Monday confirmed that senior journalist and senior anchorperson Arshad Sharif was shot dead by the police in a mistaken identity case.
The wife of Arshad Sharif, Javeria Siddique wrote on twitter ”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”.
The incident took place when he was travelling to Nairobi from the country’s Magadi town. According to Kenyan media, Arshad Sharif was shot in the head and killed by police after he and his driver allegedly breached a roadblock. Detailing the incident, the Kenyan media quoting the police said that the manned roadblock had received information to intercept a car similar to the one, Arshad Sharif and his driver were in, following a carjacking incident in Nairobi in which a child was allegedly taken hostage.
The Kenyan police further said the Pakistani journalist was asked to stop for identification but he allegedly drove past the roadblock. This led to a brief chase and shooting that left the journalist dead, it added. “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,” the Kenyan media said.
Meanwhile the Islamabad High Court (IHC) sought a report from the interior and foreign ministries into the alleged killing of senior journalist and former anchorperson of Arshad Sharif in Kenya. Barrister Shoaib Razaq moved the plea against the alleged killing of Arshad Sharif in Kenya.
IHC seeks report from interior and foreign ministries. Hearing the plea, IHC Chief Justice Athar Minallah asked about the body of the senior journalist. Where is the body of Arshad Sharif? asked IHC CJ. The body is currently in Nairobi, Barrister Shoaib Razaq replied.
The IHC while issuing notices to the secretary of the interior and foreign secretary summoned a report into the alleged killing of a Pakistani journalist in Kenya by today (Tuesday).
Meanwhile, Condolences poured in following the demise of senior journalist and former anchorperson Arshad Sharif in Nairobi, Kenya.
President Dr. Arif Alvi, Prime Minister, Shehbaz Sharif, Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders, Imran Khan, Asad Umar, Fawad Chaudhry, Punjab CM Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi and senior politicians and others expressed condolences on this occasion.
A seasoned journalist, Arshad Sharif was one of Pakistan’s top news anchors. Powerplay was Arshad’s last outing on a national television. He had worked for the country’s top news channels and newspapers in the past. He was awarded ‘Presidential Pride of Performance’ for his exceptional journalism in the year 2019.