Outspoken Pakistani Journalist, Arshad Sharif, Killed In Kenya
The Evangelist
October 25, 2022
By Idorenyin UMOREN
A Pakistani investigative journalist critical of the country’s powerful military has been killed in Kenya.
According to Al Jazeera, his death came nearly two months after he left Pakistan.
“I lost friend, husband and my favourite journalist today, as per police he was shot in Kenya,” Javeria Siddique tweeted about her husband Arshad Sharif’s death on Sunday night.
The 49-year-old journalist fled the country in August to avoid arrest after he was slapped with multiple cases, including sedition charges over an interview with Shahbaz Gill – a close aide of former prime minister Imran Khan – during which Gill made comments deemed offensive to the military.
Alleging harassment as well threats to his life he moved to Dubai in August and later relocated to Kenya, according to reports.
It was reported that the channel ARY for which Sharif worked for the last eight years was briefly taken off air in August for airing “false, hateful and seditious” content. The channel announced late August it was parting ways with the journalist, who was one of its top prime-time news anchors.
Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed its “sadness” at Arshad Sharif’s death, adding in the statement said that they were in touch with Kenyan officials regarding the matter.
The ministry confirmed that Pakistan’s envoy to Kenya along with embassy officials had identified the body at the Chiromo Funeral House in Nairobi and are now awaiting further procedures and a police report.
“The High Commission will facilitate expeditious repatriation of mortal remains of Mr. Sharif in coordination with the host authorities,” the statement read.
Kenyan media has quoted local police officials who said the shooting was a case of “mistaken identity”.
Confirming the incident, Bruno Shioso, spokesman for Kenya’s National Police Service, told Al Jazeera that local authorities are currently investigating the murder.
