NAIROBI,Kenya, Oct, 24 – The shocking killing of Investigative Journalist Arshad Sharif continues to elicit anger amongst his family, Pakistanis, Kenyans, and the journalism fraternity in what has been described as ‘dangerous’ times for journalists across the world.
His killing by Kenyan police has tainted the country’s reputation as a hub for global journalists, raising pertinent concerns on their safety even as police described the killing as unfortunate and regrettable in what they further said was a case of mistaken identity.
Kenya’s Investigative journalist and co-founder, Africa Uncensored said mourned the loss of Shariff saying that journalists should never ever have to pay their ultimate price while in the line of duty.
“Away from dealing with the fake news coming my way around #ArshadSharif death, once again my sincere condolences go to his wife & family. It should be clear by now that no journalist should ever have to pay this price for his work, but in this day and age it bears repeating. RIP,” tweeted Namu.
Pakistan High Commissioner to Kenya Saqlain Syedah termed the killing as unfortunate saying that it could affect the bilateral relations between the two countries.
“From my government, I’ve requested the government of Kenya to do intensive investigations and to find out the reason behind it and obviously manage the culprits as well because this is very unfortunate for the bilateral relations of the two countries,” said Syedah.
Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif held a phone conversation with president William Ruto on Monday morning calling for speedy investigations into the tragic incident.
“Just held a phone conversation with Kenyan President William Ruto about the tragic death of Arshad Sharif in Kenya. I requested him to ensure a fair and transparent investigation into the shocking incident. He promised all out help including fast-tracking the process of return of the most to Pakistan,” said president Sharif.
“I lost friend, husband and my favourite journalist today, as per police he was shot in Kenya,” Javeria Siddique tweeted about her husband Arshad Sharif’s death.
The High Commission is expected to facilitate expeditious repatriation of mortal remains of Sharif in coordination with Kenya according to the Pakistan Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
National Police Service Spokesperson Bruno Shioso has expressed regret following the killing saying the Service would do all it could to establish what exactly transpired on the fateful night.
“The National Police service regrets this unfortunate incident. Competent authorities are currently investigating the incident for appropriate action,” he said.
According to preliminary reports, the 50-year-old journalist was shot dead by police officers guarding a roadblock along the Kiserian- Magadi road on Sunday night in Kajiado county.
Police reports indicated that the deceased was aboard a vehicle that was being driven by his brother since identified as Kurram Ahmed. They are said to have been driving from Magadi heading toward Nairobi when the incident occurred.
General Service Unit (GSU) officers are said to have been notified by Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) detectives from Starehe sub-county of a stolen vehicle and a child kidnapping incident, with the victim suspected to have been taken to the area.
Police are initially said to have thought the vehicle was being driven by the assailants in what now seems to be a case of mistaken identity.
At the point the deceased’s vehicle approached a police roadblock subject to an inquiry on their identity, they are said to have sped off forcing police to open fire.
Shocked by what had just happened, the deceased brother is said to have called his friend, a Pakistani national, Naqar Ahmed who resides within the vicinity of Tinga area, and upon arrival at his gate, he learnt that his brother had died after fatally being shot on the head.
Police who arrived at the scene said that the deceased died after a bullet went through the back of his head exiting through the front.
Further scrutiny of the vehicle showed that at least nine bullets were fired at the vehicle, on the left side where the deceased was sitting, a bullet is said to have pierced through the windscreen.
Two bullet holes were also seen on the rear left back screen, one bullet on the rear right door, and four holes on the right side of the boot as one front right tire was also left deflated.
What seems to have angered the deceased’s family and Kenyans who took to social media to condemn the incident was why police used the level of force they did despite the deceased and his brother not being armed. Equally some observers say that police should easily have deflated the vehicle’s tires alone or chased down the vehicle as opposed to resulting to brute force in order to apprehend the two.
Police in their report later said that despite an alert of a stolen vehicle suspected to have been in the same area the deceased and his brother were in, their vehicle of registration number, KDG 200M was different from the stolen one which is said to have borne the registration number, KDJ 700F. The child that was reportedly abducted was later found in Kiserian. The stolen vehicle was however not found.
Police however did not say the model of the vehicle in question.
As investigations continue, the deceased body is being preserved a the Chiromo mortuary awaiting postmortem and repatriation to Pakistan for burial.
Sharif fled Pakistan avoiding arrest after a government plot to charge him sedition amongst other charges over an interview with Shahbaz Gill who is a close aide of former prime minister Imran Khan.
Gill is said to have made comments deemed offensive to the Pakistani military.
Sharif expressed concerns over his safety before moving to Dubai in August and later to Kenya.
The TV Chanel ARY parted ways with the deceased over what they termed as airing “false, hateful and seditious” content.
He worked for the station for eight years.
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