Arshad Sharif’s assassination was planned, targeted: FIA report

ISLAMABAD_The fact-finding team probing the murder of Arshad Sharif has compiled that his murder was planned and targeted assassination by transnational characters and not a case of mistaken identity, as the Kenyan police earlier claimed.
It was learnt that the report also contains sensitive information regarding the anchorperson, who was allegedly shot dead by the Kenyan police, in what they deemed as a case of mistaken identity, on the night of October 23 while he was travelling to Nairobi.

According to fact finding report the UAE issued visa to Arshad Sharif on June 20, 2022 and the visa was valid till August 18, 2022.Facts Finding Report (FFR) speaks that Arshad Sharif had 20 days left in his visa when he went to Kenya. He applied for a new visa on October 12, 2022.This time Arshad Sharif’s request was rejected.FF report also describes the trajectory of the bullets fired on him. The trajectory of the bullet that hit Arshad Sharif’s chest does not match the firing pattern.
A bullet hit Arshad Sharif in the upper back.
The bullet hit about 6 to 8 inches below the neck and exited from the side of the chest. It is not difficult to deduce from this wound that the bullet was fired at close range.According to report the angle from which the bullet was fired indicates that there should have been a hole in the seat of the vehicle. It further speaks that Arshad Sharif stayed in the guest house of Waqar Ahmed for 2 months and 3 days.

According to the report, Waqar Ahmed has connections with Canyon police and intelligence agencies. Waqar Ahmed has close ties with Kenya’s National Intelligence Agency. According to Waqar, after the accident, the police handed over Arshad’s iPhone, iPad, 2 USBs and wallet. Waqar Ahmad gave the iPhone and iPad to the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) officer in Kenya. A day later, the Pakistan High Commission sent an officer to collect Arshad Sharif’s belongings. According to Waqar, he contacted to the NIS officer and told him about Pakistan High Commission demands for Arshad Sharif’s belongings. Waqar Ahmad told to inquiry officials that The NIS officer stopped him from handing over anything to the Pakistan High Commission.

Later on Pakistan sent an assistant director level official to collect belingings.The report tells that the High Commission officers found important evidence belong to Arshad Sharif case.
The High Commission officers found 2 mobiles, a computer and a personal diary of Arshad Sharif was using these things during his stay in Kenya. According to Pakistani officials that first 3 meetings with Waqar Ahmed were very helpful in collecting evidence regarding Arshad Sharif’s murder case. The report describes that the fact finding team visited the residence of Arshad Sharif. During the visit, the team recovered the passport of Arshad Sharif.

According to the report the answer to the question about the transfer of USBs, passports to the Commission is not satisfactory. According to more details that Waqar Ahmed first expressed his willingness to give the CCTV footage but later he apologized for giving the footage Waqar Ahmad said that he did not handed over the footage to the local authorities.
Waqar said that his lawyer and wife have advised not to give the footage. Waqar’s younger brother Khurram statement also mentioned in the fact-finding report. He said that he took Arshad Sharif with him after the meal. On the way, they saw stones on the road, which indicated that there must be robbers and he also told Arshad Sharif. As soon as they crossed the stones on the road, they heard the sound of bullets.As soon as they heard the sound of bullets, they ran away from there. Khurram felt that Arshad Sharif had been shot.Khurram called his brother Waqar and asked him to reach the farmhouse which was 18 km away.
He told On reaching the farmhouse, he left the car at the gate and ran inside. Khurram says that Arshad took his last breath at the gate of the farmhouse. Khurram revealed that from the place of the incident to the farmhouse, he did not know whether Arshad was alive or not. This was shocking explanation when Arshad was shot in the head. The angle at which Khurram was sitting in the car should have seen that Arshad was badly injured.

The report also cover the statement of Arshad Sharif’s lawyer recorded by investigation team on October 27, he told that ISPR was Arshad’s second home. Arshad Sharif was very close to Brigadier Shafiq. After the change of government, Arshad Sharif had differences with Brigadier Shafiq. The lawyer said that some cases against Arshad Sharif were registered at the behest of Brigadier Shafiq. The facts finding team also told that after the press conference on November 15, the contacted Faisal Vawda about Arshad’s murder.Faisal Vawda was asked for evidence related to Arshad Sharif’s murder after his remarks during press conference. On his request, the team gave him 7 questions in writing but

He did not respond to any question. The report revealed that Arshad Sharif was killed under a plan. The Kenyan police did not provide any assistance in the investigation.
The report also tells that The role of many foreign characters are also important in this case. The investigation team compiled that the role of host Khurram and Waqar in Arshad Sharif’s Kenya is important and calls for further probe because Waqar Ahmed could not answer the committee’s questions satisfactorily. The statements of the driver Khurram are full of contradictions. Both the people are reluctant to give the required information. Arshad Sharif was forced to leave Pakistan due to the cases.