ISLAMABAD: On Monday, Kenya was urged by Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif to ensure impartial and open investigations into the slaying of prominent Pakistani journalist Arshad Sharif.
According to Kenyan media, Sharif, a senior journalist and anchorperson, was killed by Kenyan police on Sunday evening while travelling from the country’s Magadi town to Nairobi in a “mistaken identity” case.
On Twitter, PM Shahbaz announced that he had spoken with Kenyan President William Ruto about the untimely passing of Sharif.
He posted on Twitter, saying, “I asked him to ensure a fair [and] transparent investigation into the tragic incident.
“Unfortunate occurrence” is regretted by Kenyan police
Arshad Muhammad Sharif, 50, a Pakistani journalist, was killed by Kenyan police on the evening of October 23 within the borders of Kajiado County, according to a press conference held later by IPOA Chairperson Kenya Anne Makori.
She said that an inquiry into the incident is ongoing and that the Independent Policing Oversight Authority will conduct an open investigation into the killing of Sharif. “Our Rapid Response team has already been dispatched to the scene of the incident,” she said.
The Office of the Inspector-General National Police Service in Nairobi, Kenya, also issued a news release with information about the incident.
“Arshad Muhammad Sharif, a 50-year-old foreign national riding in a car with licence plate KDG 200M, was tragically shot by a police officer last night along the Kwenia farm/Kamukuru maram road with Magadi, Kajiado. The incident was reported to NPS, which regrettably does so. The deceased was present during the incident with his brother, Khurram Ahmed.”
“The incident occurs after Pangani Police circulated information about a stolen car. Police in Magadi were notified by the cops tailing the car as it approached by setting up a road blockade “said the statement.
“The deceased’s car hit the police barricade and was driven through. At that point, shots were fired at them, critically wounding the late Arshad Muhammad Sharif.”
“This sad incident is regretted by the National Police Service. Presently, competent authorities are looking into the issue to determine the best course of action. The Assistant Inspector General extends condolences to the deceased’s family and friends on behalf of the Service.”
Government ensures justice
Marriyum Aurangzeb, the minister of information, paid a condolence visit to the family of senior journalist Arshad Sharif earlier today.
According to a Kenyan police report, Sharif was fatally shot in Kenya when officers searching for a stolen car mistakenly thought the journalists’ car—which was also thought to be carrying a young hostage—was the stolen car when it drove through a manned roadblock without halting.
Assuring Sharif’s family that the government would not relent until justice was served, Aurangzeb pledged his promise.
“Sharif was travelling an hour from Nairobi, the capital of Kenya. The communications minister told reporters outside Sharif’s residence in the federal capital that initial reports indicated Kenyan police waved Sharif’s car to stop.
The minister emphasised waiting for the Kenyan government’s official investigating stance on the terrible incident before issuing a warning against any unwarranted speculative claims.
“The deceased has been positively identified as Sharif. Nothing can be said with certainty until Kenya’s official response to the situation, the minister said, adding that the prime minister has issued official directives for the interior to investigate the situation and task the relevant authorities to repatriate the journalist’s remains as soon as possible.