As news of senior journalist Arshad Sharif’s demise broke out on Monday morning, Pakistan’s journalism community expressed disbelief and called for a thorough probe into his killing.
The 49-year-old journalist was shot dead in the Kenyan capital Nairobi, confirmed his wife Javeria Siffiqui on Twitter.
However, while reporting on the news, Kenyan media had termed the shooting incident a “mistaken identity” case by the police.
Journalists demand probe
Many senior members of the media fraternity came forward to honour the late journalist and pray for his departed soul but also raised questions over the details of his death.
Read IHC orders secys interior, foreign to 'immediately' meet slain journalist Arshad Sharif's family
Senior journalist Kamran Khan turned to Twitter to mourn the loss and express his distrust in the details emerging regarding the incident.
"Few news accounts speak of Arshad killed in traffic accident? Kenyan officials and GOP must act fast to get us facts on this devastating news about one of Pakistan's most prominent journalists," he wrote.
"Arshad Sharif shot dead in Kenya" can't believe!. HEART BREAKING STUNNING ASTONISHING. Few news accounts speak of Arshad killed in traffic accident? Kenyan officials and GOP must act fast to get us facts on this devastating news about one of Pakistan's most prominent journalists pic.twitter.com/xmoLEVYgpq
— Kamran Khan (@AajKamranKhan) October 24, 2022
Veteran journalist Shaheen Sehbai also raised doubts about the reports terming the incident an 'accident'.
"Police say he was shot in the head. Stop pressing [the] media to report it as an accident. Have some shame," he wrote on Twitter.
Police says he was shot in the head. Stop pressing media to report it as an accident. Have some shame. pic.twitter.com/IMQPbxR4Cb
— SHAHEEN SEHBAI (@SSEHBAI1) October 24, 2022
Sharif's colleague Kashif Abbasi was also in a state of disbelief as he took to the micro-blogging site to express his shock over the incident.
"My brother, my friend my colleague Arshad Shareef was shot dead in Kenya. I still can’t believe it. It’s beyond heartbreaking. This is just wrong.. this is painful.. I love u brother [sic]," he wrote.
My brother,my friend my colleague arshad shareef was shot dead in Kenya..I still can’t believe it. It’s beyond heart breaking.this is just wrong.. this is painful.. I love u brother
— Kashif Abbasi (@Kashifabbasiary) October 23, 2022
Senior journalist Hamid Mir also highlighted a number of alleged cracks in the story being presented about Sharif's death, saying: "Kenyan police version raised some pertinent questions: Why they never fired on the tyre of the vehicle? Why they never targeted the driver? Why they shot Arshad Sharif directly in the head?"
Kenyan police version raised some pertinent questions: Why they never fired on the tyre of the vehicle? Why they never targeted the driver? Why they shot Arshad Sharif directly in the head? https://t.co/kjYtmLr4Ar
— Hamid Mir (@HamidMirPAK) October 24, 2022
Other senior members of the fraternity like Shahzab Khanzada, Arif Hameed Bhatti, Murtaza Solangi and Zarrar Khuhrro also mourned the untimely demise of the journalist.
Extremely sad to hear the devastating news about Arshad Sharif. May his soul rest in peace.. Thoughts and prayers with his family.
— Shahzeb Khanzada (@shazbkhanzdaGEO) October 23, 2022
خاور گھمن نے بتایا مگر مجھے یقین نہیں آ رہا ارشد شریف شہید ہو گیا اسکی ماں فیملی ہم @arsched کا انتظار کر رہیں ہیں🙏🏼اللہ تجھے بنی محمد صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم کا واسطہ یہ خبر جھوٹی کر دے🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼
— Arif Hameed Bhatti (@arifhameed15) October 23, 2022
Oh my god this is terrible tragic news. Arshad sharif was one of the first people I worked with in dawn English. Can't believe this this is insane
— Zarrar Khuhro (@ZarrarKhuhro) October 24, 2022
The death of Arshad Sharif must be investigated to the satisfaction of his family. The culprits must be prosecuted and punished.
— Murtaza Solangi (@murtazasolangi) October 24, 2022
RIP.
Arshad Sharif, not just a colleague, a brother, is no more. From Islamabad to Moscow, from Dunya News to ARY, I’ve not known a finer gentleman.
— Meher Bokhari (@meherbokhari) October 23, 2022
Shot dead. Too young. Too brutally.
Still can not wrap my head around it
Just heard shocking news of Arshad sharif’s assassination.he was like a younger https://t.co/2bvGwI52Rq hell with restraint, to hell with everything.None of us will rest till we find the bastards who did this and make them pay.feels like my heart will burst with grief.
— Mohammad Malick (@MalickViews) October 23, 2022
Arshad Sharif was the son of a martyred naval commander.
— Mehr Tarar (@MehrTarar) October 23, 2022
Arshad Sharif was the brother of a martyred army officer.
Arshad Sharif was the father of five children still in school.
Arshad Sharif was the only surviving son of his widow mother.
News of Arshad Sharif’s death is shocking to say the least. Rumours of him being shot are equally troubling. Open probe is needed. It can neither be brushed aside nor allowed to become fodder for dirty politics. May his soul rest in peace. Ameen
— Syed Talat Hussain (@TalatHussain12) October 24, 2022
I appeal to International Federation of Journalists @IFJasiaapacific and @CpjAsia to constitute Fact Finding Mission to probe the killing of senior anchor person and investigative journalist #ArshadShareef This case unlike many journalist's murder should not go unnoticed.
— Mazhar Abbas (@MazharAbbasGEO) October 24, 2022
Utterly shocked to wake up with a tragic tragic news of @arsched being shot dead in Kenya. RIP #arshadshareef
— Kamran Yousaf (@Kamran_Yousaf) October 24, 2022
Met Arshad's mother who previously lost her husband & son, both army officers; was surprised by her composure/realism; she had accepted bitter truth, was requesting family friends to expedite return of Arshad's coffin & instructed them to facilitate those coming for condolences https://t.co/JhxVgrFzws
— Moeed Pirzada (@MoeedNj) October 24, 2022
Who were Kenyan police looking for when they shot Pakisitani journalist Arshad Sharif in what they are describing as mistaken identity? I refuse to buy the story that he was shot trying to go past the roadblock by force. That's not a journalist's trait in a foreign country.
— Marvin, WordSmith ✍🏽 (@MarvinGakunyi) October 24, 2022
Arshad Sharif is shot dead 💔💔💔Pakistan piles up it’s tragedies… ugly ways and tormented souls … will they ever end…for how long will the blood-games carry on ?
— Nasim Zehra (@NasimZehra) October 23, 2022
اناللہ وانا الیہ راجعون pic.twitter.com/nQh5Sbngr4
— Imran Khan (@ImranRiazKhan) October 23, 2022
Unbelievably sad news. Arshad Sharif is no more. RIP. May his family find the strength and solace. Mind-numbing.
— Abbas Nasir (@abbasnasir59) October 24, 2022
Friends since 1998 when I joined Dawn Islamabad.Father of 5 school going kids,he was only male guardian of family left after Naval Commander father&Major Dr brother died on same day in 2011.Words alone cant explain grief&pain we all are suffering.
— Rauf Klasra (@KlasraRauf) October 23, 2022
A massive blow😢#arshadsharif pic.twitter.com/QxJcOL3vUs
UPDATE || Kenya Editors Guild calls on government to "quickly and thoroughly investigate" #ArshadSharif Killing,and "bring those responsible to book." This would "demonstrate ability to protect Citizens and visitors including journalists whose rights it SHOULD protect."
— Brian Obuya (@ItsBrianObuya) October 24, 2022
Earlier today, Sharif's wife Javeria Siddiqui confirmed that he died in Kenya's Nairobi city after reportedly being shot.
Taking to her official Twitter handle, Siddiqui said "I lost friend, husband and my favourite journalist Arshad today, as per police he was shot in Kenya."
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
According to Kenyan media reports, Sharif was shot in the head and killed by police after he and his driver allegedly breached a roadblock that had been set up to check on motor vehicles using the route.
They were driving from Magadi town to Nairobi when they were flagged down at a roadblock being manned by a group of police officers, police reportedly said.
A Kenyan senior police officer was quoted in the media saying, “we had an incident of shooting which turned out to be a case of mistaken identity involving a journalist. We will release more information later”.
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