Police killed Arshad Sharif in ‘mistaken identity’: Kenyan media
PM contacts Kenya’s President for probes into Arshad Sharif’s death,
IHC directs officials from interior, foreign ministries to meet journalist’s family,
NAIROBI/Islamabad (Mudassar Chuhdary/Webdesk) -_Senior journalist and anchorperson Arshad Sharif, was reportedly shot to death by Kenyan Police along the Nairobi-Magadi highway on Sunday in “mistaken identity case”.
According to Kenyan media, the journalist was fatally shot in the head by cops after allegedly violating a roadblock established to keep an eye on motor vehicles using the route.
The media, while quoting local police officials, said that they were directed to intercept a car involved in a carjacking in Nairobi in which a child was taken hostage, which was similar to the one Arshad Sharif and his driver were driving.
Florigen Office Said,
The Government of Pakistan is actively engaged with the Kenyan authorities at multiple levels for speedy repatriation of the mortal remains of Mr. Arshad Sharif.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has spoken to H.E. William Ruto, President of Kenya, to request early completion of formalities and repatriation of the mortal remains. The Kenyan President conveyed deepest condolences on the tragic incident, and assured complete investigations and repatriation of the body at the earliest.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Pakistan High Commission in Nairobi remain in constant contact to facilitate and expedite the process.
Pakistan has also formally requested the Kenyan government to hold an investigation into the incident.
Acting Foreign Secretary Raza Bashir Tarar has also met the Kenyan High Commissioner in Islamabad to impress upon the importance of the matter and urgent repatriation of the mortal remains.
The Acting Foreign Secretary also briefed the honourable members of the National Assembly Foreign Relations Committee on the developments.
Islamabad High Court ordered,
On the other hand, Islamabad High Court (IHC) Chief Justice Athar Minallah, while hearing a petition seeking an inquiry into Sharif’s death, instructed representatives from the foreign and interior ministries to immediately meet the journalist’s family.
The court also issued notices to the federal and interior secretaries and directed their respective ministries to submit a report tomorrow,
PM Make a telephonic contact with President Kenya,
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif made a telephonic contact with the President of Kenya William Kipchirchir Samoei Arap Ruto and emphasized the transparent investigation of the Pakistani journalist Arshad Sharif’s death issue.
PM Shehbaz Sharif discussed the incident of the death of senior Pakistani journalist Arshad Sharif with the President of Kenya in detail.
The PM informed the President of Kenya about the serious concern over the incident on behalf of the Pakistani nation and the media community.
Shehbaz Sharif requested the President of Kenya to complete the procedure for the early return of the late Arshad Sharif’s dead body to Pakistan.
On this, the President of Kenya assured PM Shehbaz Sharif to speed up the process of returning the dead body of the late Arshad Sharif.
The President of Kenya expressed his regret over the incident and promised to give an investigation report on the incident soon.
President condolence,
President Dr Arif Alvi, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman) Imran Khan on Monday expressed profound shock and grief over the death of senior journalist Arshad Sharif.
The president termed the death of Arshad Sharif a “great loss to journalism and Pakistan”.
He prayed that may the soul of Arshad Sharif rest in peace and may his family, which includes his followers, have the strength to bear this loss.
