Commission formed to investigate journalist Arshad Sharif’s killing

Three-member panel comprising police and IB officials and headed by former LHC judge to submit findings within 30 days

A three-member inquiry commission has been formed on the instruction of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to investigate the murder of renowned journalist Arshad Sharif, who was shot dead by Kenyan police earlier this month.

Arshad Sharif, a strong supporter of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan, was shot dead in Kenya's Nairobi city on October 23.

The death of the journalist sent shock waves across rights organisations, the media fraternity and civil society and prompted calls for thorough investigation and disclosure of facts.

According to a notification issued on Monday, former judge of Lahore High Court (LHC) Justice (retd) Abdul Shakoor will head the commission comprising Additional IG Police Dr Usman Anwar and Deputy Director Intelligence Bureau (IB) Umar Shahid Hamid, Express News reported.

The commission will submit its report to the federal government within 30 days.

IB official Shahid Hayat is also part of the two-member team that is in Kenya to ascertain the facts surrounding the murder of the senior TV anchor person.

Also read: Sharif’s Kenyan hosts quizzed

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had earlier announced that a judicial commission will investigate the killing of Arshad Sharif.

In a statement followed by video statements of the prime minister from Saudi Arabia, Information Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb said that the premier had decided to conduct a “transparent inquiry” into the grisly incident.

The murder

The 49-year-old journalist had fled the country in August to avoid arrest after he was slapped with 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, Sharif had moved to Dubai in August and later relocated to Kenya where he had died after reportedly being shot.

Kenyan national police spokesman Bruno Shioso had said the journalist was shot dead by an officer after his car drove through a police barrier. “It is then that they were shot at, fatally injuring late Arshad Mohammed Sharif,” he said.