The government of Pakistan now says journalist Arshad Shariff’s death was a case of “targeted murder” and not accidental as reported by the police in Kenya.
Shariff, a renowned investigative journalist, was reportedly shot dead by police officers manning a roadblock along Magadi Road in Kajiado on the night of Sunday, October 23, in what authorities described as a case of “mistaken identity”.
Pakistan’s Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah said on Tuesday night that evidence shows the scribe was killed in a “targeted” attack.
“We have sought briefing from the inquiry team which visited Kenya and from the information they gave, it looks like this was a targeted attack, and not a case of mistaken identity,” Sanaullah told a press conference in Islamabad.
The minister noted that two brothers, Waqar and Khurram Ahmad, who were hosting Shariff in Kenya are helping with investigations, adding that they are not off the hook yet.
“It is murder and it seems to be a prima facie, the two brothers in Kenya are still not out of it,” the minister said.
“Prima facie Arshad Shariff was murdered. It was a targeted murder and not a case of mistaken identity,” he added.
He stated that further probe into the incident was required to ascertain facts, adding the government has requested Kenyan authorities to share more information regarding the incident.
The statement comes two weeks after the Interior Ministry constituted and dispatched a team to Kenya to probe Shariff’s killing.
The ministry in a statement on October 25 said the investigation team included officers from Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), Intelligence Bureau (IB) and the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI).
FIA Director Athar Waheed, Deputy Director-General IB Shahid Hamid and ISI Lt Col Saad Ahmed are part of the probe team.
The investigation team, the government said, was to immediately leave for Kenya and submit its report to the ministry.
The Pakistan government directed the foreign ministry and the officials of the Pakistani High Commission in Kenya to assist the team.
The National Police Service (NPS) had earlier said Shariff was fatally wounded by a police officer while a passenger in a motor vehicle registration number KDG 200M. At the time of the incident, the deceased was in the company of his brother identified as Khurram Ahmed.
Police Spokesperson Bruno Shioso said the incident followed a circulation from Pangani Police of a stolen motor vehicle.
The officers trailing the motor vehicle towards Magadi alerted the police in Magadi who erected a road barrier.
NPS claimed that the driver of the vehicle ferrying the Pakistani journalist defied orders to stop at the roadblock prompting officers to open fire.
“The deceased’s motor vehicle came upon the police barrier which they drove through. It Is then that they were shot at fatally injuring the late Arshad Mohamed Shariff,” Shioso said in a statement.
The police boss said competent authorities were investigating the incident for ‘appropriate action’.
“National Police Service regrets this unfortunate incident… The Ag. Inspector General on behalf of the Service condoles with the family and friends of the deceased,” Shioso added.
Shariff’s shooting in Kenya raised a furore in Pakistan with the country’s entire top leadership including the Prime Minister, the President and even opposition leaders expressing utter shock.
President Arif Alvi termed Shariff’s death a “great loss to journalism and Pakistan”.
“May his soul rest in peace and may his family, which includes his followers, have the strength to bear this loss,” tweeted the president.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed sadness over the shocking news of Shariff’s tragic death.
“I am deeply saddened by the shocking news of journalist Arshad Shariff’s tragic death. May Allah SWT grant him a place in Heaven. My deep condolences and prayers for the bereaved family.”
The President, Shehbaz revealed, promised to ensure a speedy probe into the incident as well as the return of the body of the victim to Pakistan.
“Just had a telephonic call with Kenyan President William Ruto about the tragic death of Arshad Shariff in Kenya. I requested him to ensure fair & transparent investigation into shocking incident.
“He promised all-out help including fast-tracking the process of return of the body to Pakistan,” the Prime Minister said.
