KARACHI: G M Jamali, President Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ), and Secretary General Rana Muhammad Azeem, while condemning the murder of senior journalist Arshad Sharif in Kenya, have demanded a transparent high-level probe to figure out the real cause of his death.
PFUJ leadership have also demanded the GoP to facilitate the process of bringing back Arshad Sharif’s body to Pakistan ASAP.
PFUJ and its affiliated unions all over Pakistan are observing 3-day mourning and is staging a demonstration Monday (24th of October, 2022).
Chief Justice IHC Athar Minallah, in response to the petition praying the court to issue directives to approach the Kenyan authorities for a probe, has directed the interior ministry and foreign office to immediately contact Arshad Sharif’s family.
The hearing at IHC will recommence on Tuesday (25th of October, 2022).
HRCP Tweeted: “Shocked at the brutal murder of Arshad Sharif who paid the ultimate price for speaking the truth – his life.
“He had to leave the country & be in hiding abroad but he continued to speak the truth on social media, exposing the powerful. Today the entire nation mourns his death.
“A proper judicial investigation must be instituted to examine his own statements plus evidence that other sources have.
“We have descended into a state of brutality, unknown in civilized society, indulged in by the powerful against those who dare to criticize & expose wrongdoings.
“We express our condolences to his family, friends and colleagues. #JournalismIsNotACrime.”
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has directed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Interior to expedite the repatriation.
Taking to the Twitter PM Shehbaz Sharif stated: “I am deeply saddened by the shocking news of journalist Arshad Sharif’s tragic death...
“May Allah SWT grant him a place in Heaven. My deep condolences and prayers for the bereaved family.”
PM Shehbaz Sharif talked to the Kenyan President William Ruto via phone and emphasized for an impartial and fair investigation into Arshad Sharif’s death.
Conveying serious concerns of the Pakistan nation the PM requested the Kenyan president to fast-track the fulfillment of formalities for repatriating the body.
Kenyan President, expressing grief over the tragedy, said that justice would be served in the matter.
William Ruto, while assuring Shehbaz Sharif that report of the probe would be shared with Pakistan, stated that the process of returning Arshad Sharif’s body would be accelerated.
Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, expressing deep grief, informed that the FO was in contact with the Kenyan authorities over the killing of journalist Arshad Sharif.
Former Premier Imran Khan Tweeted: “Shocked at the brutal murder of Arshad Sharif who paid the ultimate price for speaking the truth – his life.
“He had to leave the country & be in hiding abroad but he continued to speak the truth on social media, exposing the powerful.
“Today the entire nation mourns his death.A proper judicial investigation must be instituted to examine his own statements plus evidence that other sources have.
“We have descended into a state of brutality, unknown in civilized society, indulged in by the powerful against those who dare to criticize & expose wrongdoings.”
The Kenyan Police reporting the death of Arshad Sharif stated:
“Kajiado West Subcounty Magadi Police Station
“Subject: Shooting Incident
Incident Report/Death of a foreigner.
“It was reported to Magadi police station vide OB 14/23/10/2022 at 22.00 hrs that along Kuenia farm/kamukuru marram a shooting incident involving GSU officers had occurred and one Pakistan national namely Arshad Mohammed Shariff aged 50 years had been fatally shot…
“ while he was been driven in a motor vehicle registration number KDG 200M along that road when the deceased and his brother Khurram Ahmed were driving back to Nairobi.
“It started when officers from Dcistarehe circulated a report of theft of a motor vehicle/abduction vide OB 70/23/10/2022 that one Douglas Wainaina parked his motor vehicle registration number KDJ700F outside a electrical shop and left his son namely Dancan Kamau inside the said motor vehicle.
“On return, he found the said motor vehicle missing.
“He reported the said incident at pangani police station wehre the officers located the son at Olosuritia ACK Church within Kiserian.
“He was also located at Kiserian dam estate and later at Olepolos Hills. The Dci officers from starehe subcounty alerted the oc CSU magadi training school who acted appropriately.
“The scene was visited by SCPC Kakiado West, oc Dci Kiserian and the ocs magadi together with the scenes of crime personnel from Kajiado North subcounty.
“From the scene that was near Tinqa market, it was established that Kurram Ahmed and his brother now deceased were driving along Kuenia-kamukuru rough road before they reached the Kiserian-magadi road, they found the road blocked using small stones and they decided to pass them.
“It was then they heard gun shots towards their vehicle directed from the front and rear.
“They did not stop and proceeded with the journey. Kurram called Naqar Ahmed also a Pakistan national who reside at Tinga and informed him about the incident.
“He advised them to pass his place and on arrival at the main gate found his brother had died with a gunshot wound on the head which had penetrated from back of his head and exited at the front side of his head.”
KPC condemned the murder of Arshad Sharif:
کراچی پریس کلب کے صدر فاضل جمیلی ،سیکرٹری محمد رضوان بھٹی اور دیگر عہدیداروں نے سینئر صحافی اور اینکر پرسن ارشد شریف کے کینیا کے شہر نیروبی میں قتل کیے جانے کی شدید الفاظ میں مذمت کرتے ہوئے حکومت پاکستان سے اپیل کی ہے کہ واقعہ کی تحقیقات اور قتل کی وجوہات کا تعین کرنے کے لیے فوری طور پر حکومت کینیا سے رابطہ کیا جائے اور ارشد شریف کی میت پاکستان لانے کے انتظامات کیے جائیں ۔پیر کو جاری اپنے تعزیتی بیان میں کراچی پریس کلب کے عہدیداروں نے کہا کہ پاکستان میں صحافت پر اس سے کڑا وقت کبھی نہیں آیا ہے ۔پہلے ملک میں صحافی غیر محفوظ سمجھے جاتے تھے اور اب اپنی حفاظت کے لیے بیرون ملک جانے والے صحافیوں کو بھی نشانہ بنایا جارہا ہے ۔انہوں نے کہا کہ ارشد شریف اس ملک کی صحافت کا ایک بڑا نام تھا ۔وہ گزشتہ دو دہائیوں سے ملک کے نامور اخبارات ٹی وی چینلز پر اپنے فرائض انجام دیتے رہے اور تحقیقی صحافت میں ان کا کوئی ثانی نہیں تھا ۔ان وجوہات کا جاننا انتہائی ضروری ہے کہ جس کی وجہ سے انہیں ملک چھوڑنے پر مجبور ہونا پڑا ۔کراچی پریس کلب کے عہدیداروںنے مطالبہ کیا کہ حکومت فوری طور پر کینیا میں موجود سفارتی مشن کو متحرک کرے اور حکومت کینیا سے اس واقعہ کی شفاف تحقیقات کرانے کے لیے بات کی جائے ۔انہوں نے کہا کہ ارشد شریف کی میت کو پاکستان لانے کے انتظامات کیے جائیں ۔کراچی پریس کلب دکھ کی اس گھڑی میں ارشد شریف کے لواحقین کے ساتھ ہے ۔انہوں نے کہا کہ دعا کی کہ اللہ تعالیٰ مرحوم کو جوار رحمت میں اعلیٰ مقام اور لواحقین کو صبر جمیل عطا فرمائے ۔
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