There can be nothing more tragic than the loss of human life, especially when mired in obscurities. Amid heart-wrenching sobs and utter shock, news of hardcore journalist Arshad Sharif being shot dead in Kenya spread like wildfire on Monday (October 24, 2022).
The Kenyan police fatally wounded Sharif on the night of Sunday, October 23, in what the Kenyan authorities said was a “mistaken identity” shooting on the outskirts of the Kenyan capital Nairobi.
“We have requested the government to hold a high-level investigation so that all these speculations can be put to rest,” he said while talking to a private news channel. “All the aspects of this terrible incident need to be looked into.”
To a question regarding the accusations being hurled at the institutions' alleged involvement in Sharif’s killing in Kenya, the DG ISPR said: “It is very unfortunate that people engage in allegations without any evidence to back them up … and I think an exhaustive investigation should be carried out to deal with these things”.
He said it was critical to watch out for the elements trying to exploit this tragic incident to their advantage. “I believe it should also be investigated as to why Arshad Sharif had to leave Pakistan in the first place,” the DG ISPR said.
“Though Kenyan police have confessed to their mistake, a number of questions need to be answered.”
Earlier, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had decided to form a judicial commission headed by a high court judge to probe into the tragic incident.
While, PTI Chairman and former Prime Minister Imran Khan has claimed that slain journalist Arshad Sharif has been killed in a "targeted attack." “No matter what anyone says, I know that Arshad Sharif became a victim of target killing,” Khan claimed, while addressing a lawyer’s convention in Peshawar.
While condolences continue to pour in from all quarters, the grief-stricken announcement on social media by the cast-down widow–punctuated with appeals for respecting privacy–reflects the sheer pain of someone who has had their loved ones snatched away. The need to gain closure becomes all the more critical in such dreary circumstances when it is only the unforgettable sight of the white shroud that can strengthen hearts and lace souls with solace. Ergo, the unrelenting efforts of Pakistan’s ambassador to Kenya in repatriating the deceased should be appreciated.
But just as important as not wasting any time in the process is the request from PM Shehbaz calling for a “fair and transparent” investigation. While the police in Nairobi have admitted the killing was a case of “mistaken identity” during a hunt for a similar vehicle, the Kenyan authorities should be taken to task for the gross negligence, which resulted in the death of a Pakistani national.
The diplomatic channels promised by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as it assured the family of the deceased of “all possible assistance,” need to be further pursued. This has already been underscored by Islamabad High Court in a directive given to the secretaries for interior and foreign ministries. Shrouded in ambiguities, the details of the sudden death should be brought before the public eye using diplomatic clout.
May it be a liaison with the Kenyan agencies or the dedicated efforts of the embassy staff, all Pakistanis deserve to know that a thorough investigation has been conducted for the sake of one of their own. To agree with his politics is no litmus test to grieve yet another target of a long, grim record of violence against members of the press.
Aleast Islamabad
can do to put up a strong case against any rumours of complicity is the pursual
of an immediate inquiry. Rest in Peace, Mr Sharif. You may have left us far too
young and far too brutally but the world would forever remain witness to your
courageous streak and nerves of steel.
