Arshad Sharif ‘victim of target killing’: Imran

PTI chairman and deposed premier Imran Khan on Tuesday claimed that anchorperson Arshad Sharif had “embraced martyrdom” in a “targeted attack”.

Speaking at a lawyers’ convention in Peshawar, Imran maintained that he had warned Arshad to leave the country repeatedly as he was receiving threats, but he opted to stay.

The PTI chief added that he had advised Arshad to tone down but he was not afraid.

“No matter what people say, I know this was a targeted killing,” he claimed.

The 49-year-old journalist fled the country in August this year to avoid arrest after he was implicated in multiple cases, including sedition charges over an interview with PTI leader Shahbaz Gill during which the latter had made controversial comments.

Alleging threats to his life, Arshad had moved to Dubai in August and later relocated to Nairobi in Kenya.

Arshad was shot dead by the Kenyan police in a case of “mistaken identity” while he was travelling to Nairobi from Magadi town on Sunday night.

Later, a Kenyan police statement expressed “regrets on the unfortunate incident” and read that it was being probed.

Calling Arshad a “martyr,” the former prime minister said the “fearless and patriot journalist” remained unfazed in the face of death threats and refused to compromise on his stance.

The PTI chief maintained that the slain journalist had exposed the “corruption scandals” of the Sharif and Zardari families with evidence on his TV show.

Also read: Journalist Arshad Sharif shot dead in Kenya

Imran said he had received information that “they” wanted to kill Arshad. “They raided his home and scared him in front of his family just so that he doesn’t speak the truth,” the PTI chief claimed.

He had then advised Arshad to leave the country.

“He [Arshad] refused. Then, I told him that I have information, the same way I had the information about a plot to kill me,” the PTI chief added.

Imran said Arshad left the country but was being summoned back when his visa in the UAE was about to expire.

The ex-premier added that “they” wanted to bring back Arshad from abroad and subject him to the same treatment that PTI leaders Shahbaz Gill and Azam Swati as well as journalist Jameel Farooqui had endured during their detention.

“The Almighty has not allowed anyone to remain neutral. Without rule of law there is no difference between humans and animals,” he said pledging that come what may he would continue his struggle against “thieves”.

Imran said the country was currently standing at a crossroads and he was fully determined to hold a long march to Islamabad.

“We need the lawyers’ community the most,” he said, adding that he had never seen the rule of law prevail in the country.