According to reports, renowned Pakistani journalist Arshad Sharif has been killed in Kenya. His wife, Javeria Siddique, confirmed the news in a tweet early on Monday morning. “I lost friend, husband and my favourite journalist @arsched today, as per police he was shot in Kenya,” she wrote.
I lost friend, husband and my favourite journalist @arsched today, as per police he was shot in Kenya.
— Javeria Siddique (@javerias) October 24, 2022
Respect our privacy and in the name of breaking pls don’t share our family pics, personal details and his last pictures from hospital.
Remember us in ur prayers. pic.twitter.com/wP1BJxqP5e
Both countries’ governments are yet to confirm the journalist’s death and the conditions surrounding it. Asim Iftikhar, Foreign Office Spokesperson, said Pakistan’s High Commission in Kenya was gathering information from the authorities.
According to DAWN, Arshad Sharif was a vocal opponent of the present government and the country’s leadership. He fled Pakistan earlier this year after sedition charges were filed against him in many cities.
Earlier this year, a slew of first information reports (FIRs) were filed against journalists Arshad Sharif, Sabir Shakir, and Sami Ibrahim, accusing them of sedition and propagating “anti-state” narratives. The cases against the journalists were lodged with police in numerous Sindh provinces and Balochistan, all with similar allegations and patterns. Residents of the regions submitted the FIRs, alleging that the journalists were inciting anti-national sentiments by disparaging the Pakistan Army and federal institutions.
Sharif was also instrumental in a recent documentary based on corruption in the country that was about to be released soon. The film, titled ‘Behind Closed Doors,’ was based on corruption during the Nawaz Sharif government. Adil Raja, the permanent representative of Pakistan at the International Human Rights Foundation stated that the documentary was the reason behind Sharif’s assassination. As per reports, Arshad Sharif had close ties with Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).
Arshad Sharif’s latest work, the documentary: #BehindClosedDoors and his YouTube Vlogs seem to be the reason of his assassination by the state sponsored criminal cartel of Pakistan.#ArshadSharifShaheed pic.twitter.com/n2YKwOYlRE
— Adil Raja (@soldierspeaks) October 24, 2022
Arshad Sharif linked Hindutva with terrorism, hated Modi
During the anti-Hindu riots in Delhi, Arshad was involved in propagating hatred against Hindus. In his tweets, he used terms like RSS-BJP goons and Hindutva.
Listen to the cries of the people burnt alive by #Hindutva #RSS #BJP goons.
— Arshad Sharif (@arsched) February 26, 2020
Horrible memories of use of gas⛽️ chambers by #Nazis to exterminate #Jews replicated by #Modi by burning #Muslims alive in #DelhiRiots in #Indian state sponsored #DelhiViolence 👇👇🩸🩸🩸👇👇 pic.twitter.com/Vt07VTh5da
Sharing a video in which slogans of Khalistan Zindabad are being raised alongside insults to PM Modi, Arshad Sharif said that Narendra Modi has divided Indian society into two parts by bringing fanatical policies of fascist Hindutva and violating the rights of minorities.
#Indian PM #NarendraModi has divided the Indian society & trampled the rights of minorities through fascist #Hindutva fundamentalist policies. #FarmersProtest is peoples struggle for rights.#Sikhs also demand freedom chanting #KhalistanZindabad #PakistanZindabad pic.twitter.com/nhH3MGL6Xe
— Arshad Sharif (@arsched) January 27, 2021
In the following tweet, Arshad claimed that Modi’s Hindutva policies are transforming him into the next Hitler of South Asia.
Warning ⚠️ #Modi emerging as the new #Hitler of South Asia with his policy of #Hindutva –#Christians #Jews #Parsis #Sikhs #Muslims have no place in #BJP ‘s #India. Professor of Peace & Conflict Studies Professor @ashoswai sounds alarm bells 🔔 👇 pic.twitter.com/0kOR2Xx6XZ
— Arshad Sharif (@arsched) March 6, 2019
Meanwhile, Kenyan media said that Sharif was shot dead by police in a case of “mistaken identity.” According to the report, the event occurred on Sunday night along the Nairobi-Magadi highway.
While hearing a petition requesting an investigation into Sharif’s murder, Islamabad High Court (IHC) Chief Justice Athar Minallah directed representatives from the foreign and interior ministries to meet with the journalist’s family as soon as possible. The court also served notices to the federal and interior secretaries, directing them to provide a report by tomorrow.
