Anti-establishment journalist Arshad Sharif shot dead in Kenya

[ex-q-zit]

Faisal Vawda claims Arshad Sharif’s murder ‘planned in Pakistan’, evidence of crime erased

At a press conference in the Islamabad Press Club, he vowed to reveal the truth behind Sharif’s killing. “No evidence or Arshad’s mobile or laptop will be found because they have been erased.

“This is a cold-blooded planned murder,” he alleged, adding that he was in contact with the journalist since the day Sharif left the country.

“It is being said that around 20 bullets were shot and Arshad Sharif was killed. But this did not happen. According to me, he was shot from inside the car or close range. He received 2 bullets, in the head and chest, not 20 bullets.”

Vawda claimed that the story regarding a child’s kidnapping surrounding the journalist’s murder was false, saying that if a child was present in the car, why would the police open fire.

“This was cold planned brutal murder just of Arshad Sharif in this car, not anyone else.”

The PTI leader said that he won’t name the people involved in the crime. “I have made a video and have given names of those people […] I have given those names internationally. I have given millions of dollars. I have a clear message, if I am shot and killed then you’ll be killed too.”

He went on to claim that the “conspiracy [regarding the journalist’s murder] began when FIRs (first information reports) were lodges against Arshad Sharif”, alleging that the journalist was not ready to leave the country.

“The conspirators scared him and made him desperate to leave the country. He then reached Dubai and it was said that establishment or an unnamed institution put pressure to get him out […] but this is also false and a lie.

“He stayed in Dubai as per the visa limit, when it expired then he had to leave. The diversion to London was told but he didn’t go there,” Vawda claimed.

He said that Arshad Sharif was steadfast on his stance and no one could buy him. “In coming days I will uncover all the curtains. I have told my family if something happens to me then as gifts you will get their bodies too.

“No normal person could have sent Arshad Sharif to Kenya. Who hid him and was in contact with him in Kenya? Behind it are those conspirators and liars who want to break the country, break my party and damage this country,” he alleged.

Vawda also claimed that the establishment had been in contact with Arshad Sharif. “He was ready to come back to Pakistan. He had no issue. Then fear was set in that lets get him killed so evidence will be gone and a fire will erupt.

“Now you all will ask me, how do I know all this and why. When Arshad Sharif went from this country, from that day to last days, I was in contact with him and my phone is available for forensic analysis,” he said.

The PTI leader continued that the players of the “conspiracy in Pakistan” were present inside the country and were “internationally connected”.

“Arshad Sharif was murdered. He had no danger from here, the establishment which we take name of, had positive contact with him and I was part of that,” he further claimed and warned that he would take the names of the perpetrators in the upcoming days.

“Establishment has no role in this killing, the role of the one will be apparent in coming days,” he reiterated.

 

[Bewal Express]

Faisal Vawda claims Arshad Sharif’s murder ‘planned in Pakistan’, evidence of crime erased

At a press conference in the Islamabad Press Club, he vowed to reveal the truth behind Sharif’s killing. “No evidence or Arshad’s mobile or laptop will be found because they have been erased.

“This is a cold-blooded planned murder,” he alleged, adding that he was in contact with the journalist since the day Sharif left the country.

“It is being said that around 20 bullets were shot and Arshad Sharif was killed. But this did not happen. According to me, he was shot from inside the car or close range. He received 2 bullets, in the head and chest, not 20 bullets.”

Vawda claimed that the story regarding a child’s kidnapping surrounding the journalist’s murder was false, saying that if a child was present in the car, why would the police open fire.

“This was cold planned brutal murder just of Arshad Sharif in this car, not anyone else.”

The PTI leader said that he won’t name the people involved in the crime. “I have made a video and have given names of those people […] I have given those names internationally. I have given millions of dollars. I have a clear message, if I am shot and killed then you’ll be killed too.”

He went on to claim that the “conspiracy [regarding the journalist’s murder] began when FIRs (first information reports) were lodges against Arshad Sharif”, alleging that the journalist was not ready to leave the country.

“The conspirators scared him and made him desperate to leave the country. He then reached Dubai and it was said that establishment or an unnamed institution put pressure to get him out […] but this is also false and a lie.

“He stayed in Dubai as per the visa limit, when it expired then he had to leave. The diversion to London was told but he didn’t go there,” Vawda claimed.

He said that Arshad Sharif was steadfast on his stance and no one could buy him. “In coming days I will uncover all the curtains. I have told my family if something happens to me then as gifts you will get their bodies too.

“No normal person could have sent Arshad Sharif to Kenya. Who hid him and was in contact with him in Kenya? Behind it are those conspirators and liars who want to break the country, break my party and damage this country,” he alleged.

Vawda also claimed that the establishment had been in contact with Arshad Sharif. “He was ready to come back to Pakistan. He had no issue. Then fear was set in that lets get him killed so evidence will be gone and a fire will erupt.

“Now you all will ask me, how do I know all this and why. When Arshad Sharif went from this country, from that day to last days, I was in contact with him and my phone is available for forensic analysis,” he said.

The PTI leader continued that the players of the “conspiracy in Pakistan” were present inside the country and were “internationally connected”.

“Arshad Sharif was murdered. He had no danger from here, the establishment which we take name of, had positive contact with him and I was part of that,” he further claimed and warned that he would take the names of the perpetrators in the upcoming days.

“Establishment has no role in this killing, the role of the one will be apparent in coming days,” he reiterated.

FV Exposed himself as a double agent. His press conference was shown on PTV, so already Bajwa and the Nooras knew what he was going to say because they lifafas had told us earlier. The establishment has planted snakes around Around IK and another has been exposed. The desperation to stop the long march grows daily

 

[DHONI183]

Faisal Vawda?! Seriously?! That was an incredibly poor attempt!

"They" need someone in their ranks who can at least prepare people with better statements and claims than this. A complete joke!

 

[MenInG]

Postmortem completed

Later in the day, Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims) Hospital Director Dr Khalid Masud told Dawn.com that an eight-member team of senior doctors conducted Sharif’s postmortem.

The team comprised Masud, Professor SH Waqar, Professor Dr Mumtaz Khan Niazi, Professor Dr Farrukh Kamal, Dr Irshad Hussain, Dr Nasreen Butt, Dr Altaf Hussain and Dr Mohammad Umar Farooq.

He said that the journalist’s X-ray had been completed while the CT scan was underway as per the medical team’s recommendation.

Masud added that Sharif was likely to be later transferred to the Quaid-e-Azam International Hospital mortuary.

In a tweet, Sharif’s wife Javeria Siddique said she was present during the process and said the PIMS administration and police had cooperated with her.

She said Sharif’s funeral would be held on Thursday at 2pm in the Shah Faisal Mosque.

 

[Bewal Express]

Faisal Vawda?! Seriously?! That was an incredibly poor attempt!

"They" need someone in their ranks who can at least prepare people with better statements and claims than this. A complete joke!

What a pathetic attempt by the Snake. Who told him about the things he is claiming? And they accuse us of being full conspiracies. They killed an innocent man, a patriotic man and the best defence they can forward is FV.

 

[Major]

What a pathetic attempt by the Snake. Who told him about the things he is claiming? And they accuse us of being full conspiracies. They killed an innocent man, a patriotic man and the best defence they can forward is FV.

Faisal Vawda is your party man. Hence your party is now making such claims

 

[Major]

interesting that PTI's own party member knows something that no investigator knows. So he got 2 bullets.

How does Faisal Vawda have such information? This gets abit interesting now

 

[Bewal Express]

interesting that PTI's own party member knows something that no investigator knows. So he got 2 bullets.

How does Faisal Vawda have such information? This gets abit interesting now

He exposed himself very quickly. IK said a few weeks ago he had snakes and tonight one was exposed. He claimed to be a friend of Arshad but that lie was exposed. GHQ going all out to use all their assets.

 

[Gayle_Force]

I have seen some bizarre pressers but this press conference by Vawda has to be the most confusing press conference I have ever seen. Just left everyone with more questions and answers.

 

[cric_man]

#ScriptIsRejected

PTV live telecast of that press conference, the likes of Gharida Farooqi & Hina Butt knowing about it prior to it happening should tell you where the script was written.

Expect Faisal "John Pric|<" Vawda to get a clean chit in this up comin disqualification hearing.....
Here is your 8 pieces of silver Judas.

 

[MenInG]

KARACHI: Kenyan journalists have raised questions about the killing of Pakistani journalist Arshad Sharif and brought new details to light.

In a news story published by Nation Media Group, a senior investigative reporter said the occupant in Mr Sharif’s car shot at GSU officers, according to police claims.

“The Nation, in an attempt to reconstruct the events leading to Sharif’s shooting, has established that the journalist and Mr Kurram Ahmed spent Sunday afternoon at Ammodump@Kwenia, an entertainment complex that also has a shooting range, and which is popular among Pakistani gun enthusiasts. It is located on a feeder road in Kamukuru, which is 85 kilometres south of Nairobi. Mr Ahmed is from a family that was hosting Sharif in Westlands, Nairobi, and it appears that he has been in Kenya for a while, because he has a Kenya Revenue Authority Pin number for taxpayers. The Toyota Land Cruiser that the two were using that day is registered to Mr Ahmed,” the report read.

It added: “It is believed that the two men left Kwenia for Nairobi at about 8pm. When they got to the main road, they were stopped by GSU officers who, according to the police, were responding to reports that a stolen vehicle had been sighted in the area.”

The report noted contradictory versions of police that earlier claimed Mr Sharif and his brother defied orders at a checkpoint but later alleged Mr Sharif’s brother “shot at” one officer and injured him. It quoted police as saying that the incident prompted police to shoot back. “He was challenged to stop but he defied and opened fire at our officers, which triggered them to respond to the said vehicle as it sped towards the Nairobi direction,” the report said, quoting an unknown police official.

The publication also raised the question of why the police, who had their own vehicle at the roadblock, did not chase the Toyota Land Cruiser after its occupants allegedly shot at them.

On Twitter, Kenyan investigative journalist Brian Obuya said the fatal shot that killed Mr Sharif was “fired with precision through the rear mirror of the car”.

He said the vehicle Mr Sharif was travelling in was shot at nine times in total, with four bullets fired to the left and one deflating the right side tyre. Obuya also earlier said the body of the slain journalist was found at Kenya’s Chiromo Mortu*ary, which was 78km from where the police say the shooting happened.

Former Nairobi governor Mike Sonko, however, defended Kenyan police, saying they should not be blamed for Mr Sharif’s death. He claimed the police were ‘tricked’ into shooting the Pakistani national thinking he was involved in vehicle theft. He believed Mr Sharif was trailed by a “Pakistani killer squad” due to an investigation he was doing into a money laundering syndicate involving Pakistani politicians.

Published in Dawn, October 27th, 2022

 

[MenInG]

The mother of martyred journalist Arshad Sharif on Wednesday released a video message ahead of her son’s funeral prayers.

Arshad Sharif’s mother announced that the funeral prayer will be held at Faisal Masjid Islamabad at 2:00 pm on Thursday (today). She urged everyone to visit her residence before going to the mosque for funeral prayers.

She said that she wants to say goodbye to her son in a manner befitting for his sacrifice.

Sharif’s mother said that she could not explain in words, the support she received from ARY Digital Network and its President and CEO Salman Iqbal.

“During the last two months, Salman Iqbal supported me a lot and tried his level best to protect Arshad Sharif,” she added.

Arshad Sharif was shot dead in Kenya by the local police on Sunday night along the Nairobi-Magadi highway in a “mistaken identity case”.

Imran Khan telephones Salman Iqbal

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan on Wednesday telephoned President and CEO ARY Digital Network Mr Salman Iqbal following the death of senior journalist Arshad Sharif.

Salman Iqbal expressed deep grief and sorrow over the murder of senior journalist and former ARY News anchorperson Arshad Sharif in Nairobi.


During the conversation, the President and CEO ARY Digital Network expressed his determination to bring the killers of Arshad Sharif to justice.

Chairman ARY Digital Network announcement

Earlier, the Chairman ARY Digital Network Haji Muhammad Iqbal also announced lifelong support for Arshad Sharif Shaheed’s family and the late news anchor’s children till they become self-reliant adults.

Arshad Sharif, a senior journalist and former ARY News anchor, was killed in Kenya where he was living in self-exile. Kenyan police first said that Arshad Sharif was killed in a case of “mistaken identity” but since the seasoned journalist’s post-mortem and his body’s transfer to his home country, several Kenyan news outlets have not only questioned the police’s conduct but have raised questions over the manner in which he was killed.

Arshad Sharif left five children, his mother and two wives in bereavement. As the martyr was once part of ARY News, Haji Muhammad Iqbal, Chairman ARY Network, today announced that the group will financially assist Arshad Sharif’s family and his children till they become self-reliant.

Who was Arshad Sharif? why people loved him?

A seasoned journalist, Arshad Sharif was one of Pakistan’s top news anchors. ARY News show Powerplay was Arshad’s last outing on a national television.

He had worked for the country’s top news channels and newspapers in the past. He was awarded ‘Presidential Pride of Performance’ for his exceptional journalism in the year 2019.

His show ‘Powerplay’ was one of the most-watched talkshows in Pakistan and people loved the way Arshad came up with stories regarding the ruling elite’s corruption and wrongdoings with strong evidence.

The martyr’s family has demanded judicial inquiry and public hearings during the inquiry to reveal the “truth” behind his murder.

Government of Pakistan has also formed a two-member team to investigate Arshad Sharif’s death comprising Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) and the Intelligence Bureau (IB) representatives.

 

[DHONI183]

Arshad Sharif will be laid to rest today, but I hope that his sacrifice leads to the birth of more brave journalists who dare to speak up against the tyranny of the Sharifs, Zardaris/Bhuttos, and our protectors with the gun who, on the contrary, end up shooting us! Enough of the slave journalists like Kamran Shahid who turn a blind eye to everything going wrong in Pakistan and pretend, in the name of so-called democracy, that all is going in the right direction.

Rest in peace, Arshad Sharif. His "Wo koun tha" episode of his show Powerplay will go down as one of the best shows ever in the history of country, if not the best.

 

[YousafTheBeast]

Speculating. How can a non govt official get him killed?

Lol nawaz shareef is so powerful that while he lives in exile and has no govt post he is getting ppl killed? And to not in pakistan but im foreign land?

The most hilarious thIng i have read.

Bruh…I’m lost for words.

A rich man who’s about to be exposed once again for money laundering cannot put a hit on a journalist because he’s a non govt official…I learn new things everyday on this forum

Yes, he’s powerful…wealth = power.

Why would someone need to have a govt post to kill a journalist?

Are you saying that the UK government is tracking everything Nawaz Sharif is doing or saying?

We’ve had Russians come into our country and poison a former military officer but apparently Nawaz Sharif, a man with wealth cannot put a hit on someone that’s about to expose him.

You seem to have a false image of our country, where you think it’s impossible to commit crimes…lol

 

[MenInG]

The funeral prayer of senior journalist Arshad Sharif was offered at Faisal Mosque in Islamabad on Thursday.

A large number of people were present at the funeral.

Security around the Faisal Mosque was put on high alert for the funeral prayers of slain journalist Arshad Sharif.

A heavy contingent of Islamabad Police and Frontier Corps has been deployed around the Mosque.

A total of 3, 792 security personnel are deployed around the mosque and three superintendents of police (SPs), five assistant superintendents of police (ASPs) and deputy superintendents police (DSPs) are supervising the security arrangements.

 

[Bewal Express]

Billo rani has blood on his hands.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="ur" dir="rtl">ارشد شریف کے قاتلوں کا پتہ چل رہا ہے ۔<br><br>ارشد شریف کو دبئی سے ڈی پورٹ کرنے کیلئے دباؤ اور خط بلاول نے لکھا تھا۔۔</p>— Chaudhary Ghulam Husain (@CHGHULAMHUSAlN) <a href="https://twitter.com/CHGHULAMHUSAlN/status/1585177457560555521?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 26, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Whether it was Billo or one of the other criminal cretins, he was deported on the advice of PK govt. We will find out and they better hope Bajwa is still around, because otherwise they will be hanged. A death of patriot can't be allowed to be kicked into the long grass

 

[Pakpak]

Whether it was Billo or one of the other criminal cretins, he was deported on the advice of PK govt. We will find out and they better hope Bajwa is still around, because otherwise they will be hanged. A death of patriot can't be allowed to be kicked into the long grass

Ghulam Hussain has been arrested today as well

 

[Browncaps]

Faisal Vawda is your party man. Hence your party is now making such claims

You are not fooling anyone.

The chors you support buy and blackmail people with stolen public funds. Have some class before spreading lies like Maryam’s media cell.

 

[Major]

Army and ISI exposed Imran.
The real mi jaffar he went to the army and was ready to given further extention and go against constitution. EVen the army has exposed him now publicly.

 

[Bewal Express]

Army and ISI exposed Imran.
The real mi jaffar he went to the army and was ready to given further extention and go against constitution. EVen the army has exposed him now publicly.

I think Javed Latif exposed these crooks. What does he mean when he says they were forced to take power? By whom and why. And today Gulam Hussain arrested, but but but we were told that no one is under duress and people can speak their mind. It's a great day for PK, the men in the shadows forced to show their faces.

 

[daytrader]

ARSHAD SHARIF LAID TO REST IN ISLAMABAD

ISLAMABAD: Senior journalist and former ARY News anchorperson Arshad Sharif was laid to rest in Islamabad’s H-11 cemetery on Thursday, ARY News reported.

The senior journalist was laid to rest after his funeral prayers were offered at the Shah Faisal Mosque in Islamabad. A large number of people belonging to various walks of life attended the funeral prayers.

Strict security arrangements were made around Shah Faisal Mosque to avoid any eventuality during the last rituals of the slain journalist.

At his family’s request, an eight-member medical board of the PIMS hospital carried out the post-mortem on his body at the hospital.

Arshad Sharif’s mother’s message
Yesterday, Arshad Sharif’s mother urged everyone to visit her residence before going to the mosque for funeral prayers. She said that she wants to say goodbye to her son in a manner befitting of his sacrifice.

Sharif’s mother said that she could not explain in words, the support she received from ARY Digital Network and its President and CEO Salman Iqbal.

Chairman ARY Digital Network announcement
Earlier, the Chairman ARY Digital Network Haji Muhammad Iqbal also announced lifelong support for Arshad Sharif Shaheed’s family and the late news anchor’s children till they become self-reliant adults.

Arshad Sharif left five children, his mother and two wives in bereavement. As the martyr was once part of ARY News, Haji Muhammad Iqbal, Chairman ARY Network, announced that the group will financially assist Arshad Sharif’s family and his children till they become self-reliant.

The senior journalist and former ARY News anchor, was killed in Kenya where he was living in self-exile. Kenyan police first said that Arshad Sharif was killed in a case of “mistaken identity” but since the seasoned journalist’s post-mortem and his body’s transfer to his home country, several Kenyan news outlets have not only questioned the police’s conduct but have raised questions over the manner in which he was killed.

Who was Arshad Sharif? why people loved him?
A seasoned journalist, Arshad Sharif was one of Pakistan’s top news anchors. ARY News show Powerplay was Arshad’s last outing on national television.

He had worked for the country’s top news channels and newspapers in the past. He was awarded ‘Presidential Pride of Performance’ for his exceptional journalism in the year 2019.

His show ‘Powerplay’ was one of the most-watched talkshows in Pakistan and people loved the way Arshad came up with stories regarding the ruling elite’s corruption and wrongdoings with strong evidence.

The martyr’s family has demanded a judicial inquiry and public hearings during the inquiry to reveal the “truth” behind his murder.

Government of Pakistan has also formed a two-member team to investigate Arshad Sharif’s death comprising Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) and the Intelligence Bureau (IB) representatives.

ARY

 

[DHONI183]

She is vile.

Maryam Nawaz deleted her tweet and issued an apology, but she´s continuing to like hatred-filled tweets against the late Arshad Sharif. I got to know about it yesterday and thought that maybe the screenshot is a fake job of some PTI propaganda master, but checking the tweets liked by her has left me stunned! What a shameless and bitter lady she is!

 

[gazza619]

Establishment wanted to prove its power by killing Arshad Sharif. The timing was also key as it felt that the whole nation would be busy for weeks enjoying T20 WC.

Little did they know that Pakistan is almost already out of the tournament.

 

[fitCricFan]

A real sad day for the press. Hoping it is not a political assassination

 

[mazkhan]

I'm having my doubts about these commissioned officers who mostly become generals and control the mafia.

I highly doubt these people come in the military on merit and are able to complete the pma course to me they use their family connections angraiz empire kay ghulam martial race theory and are fast tracked . It's mainly rajputs.

One of my cousins was rejected we are gujjars from pma course and the guy is an absolute athlete and 6.2ft and educated he said rajputs were fast forwarded .
They made some bullcrap that his spine is bent but he should join the regular army he would wipe most of these rajputs out in a fight. Which basically means start from the bottom and then we will send you to waziristan or some hellhole in balochistan or line of control and then become a qurbani ka bakra he didn't and we'll done to the guy.

If u look at these generals then compare to even ik who is nearly 70 looks fitter than these guys that's why I'm having my doubts these martial race generals even completed the pma course or any gruelling training programme.

 

[MenInG]

ISLAMABAD: A day after Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) leader Faisal Vaw*da’s claim that journalist Arshad Sharif’s murder was pre-planned in Pak*istan, Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah on Thursday said PTI chief Imran Khan and other party leaders, including Mr Vawda, will also be investigated in the killing case.

“Following Vawda’s claims, there is no need for further witnesses, as his words should be taken into serious consideration,” the minister said at a press conference in the capital, adding that the facts gleaned so far were being probed. “Imran Khan wants bodies before every long march,” he said.

“A narrative was built that Arshad Sharif was being intimidated and threatened,” he remarked, adding that a “hoax” threat alert for the journalist was issued by the KP government, which would be investigated.

The alert, he said, stated that the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan had plotted the journalist’s murder. He said Mr Sharif went to Dubai and was later sent to Kenya.

He said cases against Arshad Sharif’s killing would be filed after the inquiry committee submitted its report. He alleged that all the existing leads pointed to two individuals — Imran Khan and (ARY chief operating officer) Salman Iqbal, adding that verified details about the ownership of the farmhouse, where the journalist was suspected to be staying in Nairobi, would be received shortly.

The minister also said the government-constituted two-member joint investigation team was gathering intelligence about Waqar and Khurram — two of the key characters in the late journalist’s Kenyan ordeal. “Did Khurram inform Arshad Sharif’s family first?” Sanaullah questioned.

He commented that PTI chief Imran Khan’s true face stood exposed before the nation after the intelligence agency chief in a rare press conference apparently set the record straight about both the US cipher (that Mr Khan claims exposed how and why his government was sent packing) as well as Arshad Sharif’s murder.

Mr Sanaullah said the PTI’s long march would not be allowed to enter Islamabad’s Red Zone at any cost. The government would deploy the army under Article 245 of the Constitution and the marching protesters would be contained at all the entry points to the capital.

“We will ensure that the march complies with the Supreme Court and high court orders,” he said.

Meanwhile, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif also berated Imran Khan for casting aspersions on the army chief.

Speaking at a press conference here, he said there was a time when Mr Khan was offering an extension to the army chief, but the situation changed when Gen Qamar Bajwa refused to take unconstitutional and illegal steps, which followed attacks on his integrity.

“He uses one language against the institution in front of the media, while behind closed doors in secret meetings, he appears apologetic,” Mr Asif claimed.

“We respect the decision of the institution (to remain neutral) and will protect it. Other institutions should also follow suit and remain within their constitutional ambit,” he said.

The defence minister claimed Mr Khan had been barred from making the cipher public in his political rally, but he created a national security issue for his personal vested interest. He blamed the PTI chief for destroying the credibility of Pakistan and its relations with the international community.

“They made fun of our martyred three-star general on social media,” said the minister and warned that the blood of the martyrs was a “red line for the state and nation”. He said Mr Khan crossed the red line and made deliberate attempts to create divisions within an institution.

The minister asked the PTI chief whether he would appear before the inquiry commission constituted to probe the murder of Arshad Sharif because he admitted to have advised the deceased to leave the country.

He said the KP government did not share the supposed threat alert to Mr Sharif with the federal government. He also defended the unprecedented presser by the ISI and ISPR chiefs, saying the institution was left with no option but to go public after Mr Khan “crossed all limits”.

Published in Dawn, October 28th, 2022

 

[MenInG]

ISLAMABAD: Those close to the investigations in the brutal killing of senior TV anchorperson Arshad Sharif in Kenya and the members of the medical board that conducted the autopsy of the slain journalist at a Islamabad hospital were surprised to find a “piece of metal”, later declared as a bullet, from the body that had been transported to Pakistan reportedly after his post-mortem in Nairobi on Tuesday night.

Sources told Dawn that the authorities had decided to carry out a forensic examination of the “metal piece” recovered from Arshad Sharif’s chest, believing that it could definitely help determine the type of the weapon used in the incident.

According to the sources, the eight-member medical board of the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims), which conducted the autopsy on Oct 26, had handed over the “piece of metal” to the police for further investigations, stating that this recovery of the bullet could provide a crucial lead to the investigations into the murder surrounded by mystery and controversies.

“This metal piece is actually a bullet and it is surprising that those conducted the autopsy on Arshad’s body in Nairobi had left it inside the body,” said one of the sources, associated with the investigations.

According to him, under the standard operating procedure, bullets were never left inside the body after the autopsy and its recovery had made the post-mortem conducted by the authorities in Nairobi doubtful.

He said the bullet has now been removed from the body and handed over to the investigators for a forensic examination. The test, he said, would help determine the type of the weapon used in the incident and then it might prove helpful in identifying the killer(s).

“Now the weapon is in Kenya and the bullet is in Pakistan,” he said, adding that as a result the matching of the bullet with the weapon would become a difficult task until these were combined at one place.

Giving further details, he said, the autopsy showed that Arshad Sharif had received bullets on his chest and head and the wound mark on the chest showed that the bullets had been fired from behind and from a close range.

“There is a bullet injury at front side of the body, which might be an exit point of another bullet,” he said, adding that a mild-blackening was found around the bullet injury at the backside of the chest which could happen only if the bullet was fired from close range — with a distance of four feet or less.

A bullet injury was also found at the upper part of Arshad Sharif’s skull, the sources said, adding that a significant part of his skull had been found smashed.

The sources said the recovered bullet would either be sent to a forensic science laboratory in Islamabad or the Punjab Forensic Science Agency in Lahore.

A final decision in this regard, they said, would be made on Saturday (today). They said the samples taken from various body parts, including heart, lungs, liver, spleen and stomach, had already been sent to the forensic science agency in Lahore for pathology and toxicology tests.

Allegations denied

Meanwhile, Chief Operating Officer of ARY News TV channel Salman Iqbal has categorically refuted the allegations of Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah Khan about his role in Arshad’s murder and termed it ‘part of a campaign against him’ by the PML-N government.

“The wild and baseless allegations recently levelled against me by the interior minister in relation to Arshad’s killing are a continuation of this campaign. Let me say categorically that I had no involvement whatsoever in the gruesome act against my brother,” said Mr Iqbal through his official Twitter handle.

Mr Iqbal said under the present PML-N government, he had no confidence in any investigation and called for a probe through the UN Human Rights Cell. “I am calling for an independent investigation overseen by the UN Human Rights Office, and I will of course provide my full cooperation to any such investigation seeking to get to the full truth behind the killing of Arshad Sharif with a view to bringing those responsible to justice,” he said.

At a media briefing on Friday, the Foreign Office (FO) spokesman said the investigation team set up by the government for ascertaining facts related to assassination of the journalist left for Kenya on Friday.

Published in Dawn, October 29th, 2022

 

[MenInG]

The Foreign Office spokesperson has denied the reports that Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari had written any letter to the UAE authorities, seeking expulsion of slain journalist Arshad Sharif from the Gulf country.

The 49-year-old journalist fled Pakistan 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.
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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, October 23.

Following his death, many on social media including some PTI leaders had claimed that Sharif left for Kenya after UAE authorities refused to renew his via on the request of Pakistani officials.

In a weekly briefing on Friday, FO Spokesperson Asim Iftikhar termed the claims “baseless and fabricated”, saying it was essential that the journalist’s murder should be probed to establish the truth.

“We should wait for the investigation report of Kenyan and Pakistani inquiry committees,” he added.

Also read: ISI official excluded from Arshad’s murder probe

The interior ministry on Wednesday removed a representative of the Inter-Service Intelligence (ISI) from the list of officials, who would be part of a team formed to ascertain the facts in the killing of journalist Arshad Sharif in Kenya.

In a revised notification, a copy of which is available with The Express Tribune, the ministry removed the ISI official's name from the body. However, it provided no explanation as to why the ISI officer was taken off the team.

The new notification was issued hours after the ministry had named three officials for the high-profile team – Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) Director Athar Waheed, Intelligence Bureau (IB) Deputy Director General Omar Shahid Hamid and ISI's Lt Col Saad Ahmed.

According to the notification, the two-member team, comprising the FIA and IB officials would leave for Kenya immediately. It added that the foreign ministry and the Pakistan’s High Commission in Nairobi would facilitate the team during the visit.

 

[MenInG]

Defence Minister Khawaja Asif on Sunday alleged that PTI chairman Imran Khan was using the death of journalist Arshad Sharif — who was murdered in Kenya earlier this week — to gain a political advantage.

“I am not indicating that someone is involved [in the murder] but a commission has been formed and if Imran has some evidence, he should not withhold information […] this is also a crime,” he said in a press conference in Sialkot.

Sharif was shot dead in Kenya allegedly by the local police on Sunday night, with an official police statement later expressing “regrets on the unfortunate incident” and saying an investigation was underway.

Initially, Kenyan media quoted the local police as saying Sharif was shot dead by police in a case of “mistaken identity”. Subsequently, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif formed a judicial commission to probe the murder.

 

[Bewal Express]

Defence Minister Khawaja Asif on Sunday alleged that PTI chairman Imran Khan was using the death of journalist Arshad Sharif — who was murdered in Kenya earlier this week — to gain a political advantage.

“I am not indicating that someone is involved [in the murder] but a commission has been formed and if Imran has some evidence, he should not withhold information […] this is also a crime,” he said in a press conference in Sialkot.

Sharif was shot dead in Kenya allegedly by the local police on Sunday night, with an official police statement later expressing “regrets on the unfortunate incident” and saying an investigation was underway.

Initially, Kenyan media quoted the local police as saying Sharif was shot dead by police in a case of “mistaken identity”. Subsequently, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif formed a judicial commission to probe the murder.

So Khwaja the iqama holder, who threatened Arshad and why? Why was there 16 FIRS against him and who registered them.

 

[Bewal Express]

IRK has been receiving threats from the Junta and today he left PK and Dr Moeed Pirzada has been arrested. Irshad Bhatti has also received threats and he has also left PK. As Rana the coward said they want to hang IK upside down but with 200mn behind him, they are too cowardly to do it.

 

[Browncaps]

IRK has been receiving threats from the Junta and today he left PK and Dr Moeed Pirzada has been arrested. Irshad Bhatti has also received threats and he has also left PK. As Rana the coward said they want to hang IK upside down but with 200mn behind him, they are too cowardly to do it.

Can you confirm that regarding Moeed?

I saw his recent vlog on his youtube channel and he stated he is in the UK.

 

[MenInG]

Responding to the ruckus gaining traction over who had asked journalist Arshad Sharif to flee the country, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief and former prime minister Imran Khan has said, "Yes, it was me."

In an exclusive one-on-one conversation with Daily Times, Khan asserted on Wednesday that even though he stands by his claims, no one has dared asked him why he advised Sharif to leave the motherland as early as possible.

"Call me on any forum of your liking and I will bring to light all the details," he continued.

Khan wondered why those taking great interest in the naming game hesitated in finding answers about the life-threatening circumstances braved by a "patriot who never compromised his conscience," reported Daily Times.

The former premier condemned the murder of Pakistani renowned journalist Arshad Sharif saying that he was a patriot and bore the pain of Pakistan as no one ever had.

"Today if the nation does not stand for him, there will be no difference between us and animals," he said.

The PTI Chairman said that Arshad Sharif stood for truth and his conscience had no value, reported Daily Times.

"I respected Arshad Sharif the most in journalism, I am very sorry for the martyrdom of Arshad Sharif."

He also maintained that journalists are being harassed all across Pakistan. He added, "Arshad Sharif was target killed and he is the martyr as he didn't get scared of the threat calls nor did he step back."

Arshad Sharif (49), a senior Pakistani journalist was killed on October 24 in Kenya when he was driving from Magadi to Nairobi, accompanied by his brother Khurram Ahmed.

https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/imr...e-pakistan-3475122#pfrom=home-ndtv_topstories

 

[MenInG]

The federal cabinet, on the request of the Ministry of Defence, has approved the constitution of a three-member commission to "inquire into the facts" of the death of journalist Arshad Sharif.

The commission — led by Justice Abdul Shakoor Paracha and comprising Additional Inspector General of Police Usman Anwar and Intelligence Bur*eau (IB) Deputy Director General Omar Shahid Hamid — has been formed under the Pakistan Commission of Inquiry Act, 2017, an official notification available with Dawn.com said.

It stated that after Sharif's death, the Ministry of Defence proposed a "highest-level inquiry" into the incident in collaboration with the government of Kenya to "ascertain the facts".

"Moreover, post this incident, unnecessary rumor-mongering, virulent speculations and smear campaign has been launched against the armed forces."

To conduct an inquiry into the matter, the notification said, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif directed that a commission be formed. It will submit its report to the government within 30 days and be provided with "secretarial support" by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA).

The development comes after the military requested the government to conduct a “high-level investigation” into the “accidental” killing of journalist Arshad Sharif.

In an interview last week, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Director General (DG) Major General Babar Iftikhar said: "We have requested the government to hold a high-level investigation so that all the speculations can be put to rest."

Earlier, the government also formed a team to probe the killing. Initially, a three-member body, comprising Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) director Athar Wahid, IB's Omar Shahid Hamid and Lt Col Saad Ahmed of Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) was formed. Later, the team’s size was cut from three to two with the exclusion of the ISI official.

According to a Dawn report on Monday, the team — which is currently in Kenya — met Khurram Ahmed, who was driving the vehicle carrying the slain journalist and his brother Waqar Ahmed in the Kenyan capital at the time of the killing. But there was no confirmation from either the IB or the FIA that the committee had questioned them.

The killing

Sharif was shot dead in Kenya allegedly by the local police on the night of October 23, with an official police statement later expressing “regrets on the unfortunate incident” and saying an investigation was underway.

Initially, the Kenyan media quoted the local police as saying Sharif was shot dead by police in a case of “mistaken identity”.

However, reports from the Kenyan media later reconstructed the events surrounding the killing, stating that an occupant in Sharif’s car at the time of his killing was believed to have shot at paramilitary General Service Unit (GSU) officers.

“They were stopped by GSU officers who, according to the police, were responding to reports that a stolen vehicle had been sighted in the area,” a report by Nation Media Group said.

The report noted contradictory versions of police that earlier claimed Sharif and his brother defied orders at a checkpoint but later alleged that Sharif’s brother “shot at” one officer and injured him. It quoted police as saying that the incident prompted police to shoot back.

Sharif’s body arrived in Pakistan last week. It was buried at Islamabad's H-9 graveyard after a post-mortem at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences.

DAWN

 

[Bewal Express]

The federal cabinet, on the request of the Ministry of Defence, has approved the constitution of a three-member commission to "inquire into the facts" of the death of journalist Arshad Sharif.

The commission — led by Justice Abdul Shakoor Paracha and comprising Additional Inspector General of Police Usman Anwar and Intelligence Bur*eau (IB) Deputy Director General Omar Shahid Hamid — has been formed under the Pakistan Commission of Inquiry Act, 2017, an official notification available with Dawn.com said.

It stated that after Sharif's death, the Ministry of Defence proposed a "highest-level inquiry" into the incident in collaboration with the government of Kenya to "ascertain the facts".

"Moreover, post this incident, unnecessary rumor-mongering, virulent speculations and smear campaign has been launched against the armed forces."

To conduct an inquiry into the matter, the notification said, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif directed that a commission be formed. It will submit its report to the government within 30 days and be provided with "secretarial support" by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA).

The development comes after the military requested the government to conduct a “high-level investigation” into the “accidental” killing of journalist Arshad Sharif.

In an interview last week, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Director General (DG) Major General Babar Iftikhar said: "We have requested the government to hold a high-level investigation so that all the speculations can be put to rest."

Earlier, the government also formed a team to probe the killing. Initially, a three-member body, comprising Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) director Athar Wahid, IB's Omar Shahid Hamid and Lt Col Saad Ahmed of Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) was formed. Later, the team’s size was cut from three to two with the exclusion of the ISI official.

According to a Dawn report on Monday, the team — which is currently in Kenya — met Khurram Ahmed, who was driving the vehicle carrying the slain journalist and his brother Waqar Ahmed in the Kenyan capital at the time of the killing. But there was no confirmation from either the IB or the FIA that the committee had questioned them.

The killing

Sharif was shot dead in Kenya allegedly by the local police on the night of October 23, with an official police statement later expressing “regrets on the unfortunate incident” and saying an investigation was underway.

Initially, the Kenyan media quoted the local police as saying Sharif was shot dead by police in a case of “mistaken identity”.

However, reports from the Kenyan media later reconstructed the events surrounding the killing, stating that an occupant in Sharif’s car at the time of his killing was believed to have shot at paramilitary General Service Unit (GSU) officers.

“They were stopped by GSU officers who, according to the police, were responding to reports that a stolen vehicle had been sighted in the area,” a report by Nation Media Group said.

The report noted contradictory versions of police that earlier claimed Sharif and his brother defied orders at a checkpoint but later alleged that Sharif’s brother “shot at” one officer and injured him. It quoted police as saying that the incident prompted police to shoot back.

Sharif’s body arrived in Pakistan last week. It was buried at Islamabad's H-9 graveyard after a post-mortem at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences.

DAWN

The fox will be asked about who killed the chicken. A full impartial enquiry needed by the UN. The 1st question on the list, who threatened him in PK and who forced him out

 

[MenInG]

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.

 

[daytrader]

Slain senior journalist and former ARY News anchorperson Arshad Sharif’s mother has asked the federal government to not politicise the assassination case and rejected the three-member inquiry commission, ARY News reported on Monday.

Slain Arshad Sharif’s mother expressed disappointment over the inquiry commission formed by the federal government and termed its constitution contradictory to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s announcement. She demanded the federal government to not politicise her son’s assassination case.

 

[MenInG]

An investigation team formed to probe the murder of renowned journalist Arshad Sharif met with the Kenyan police chief and officials to ascertain the facts related to the gruesome killing.

The two-member team comprising Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) Headquarters Director Athar Waheed and Intelligence Bureau (IB) Deputy Director Umar Shahid Hamid is in Kenya to ascertain the facts surrounding the murder of the senior journalist.

 

[MenInG]

ISLAMABAD: Former prime minister and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan announced to appear before the inquiry commission formed by the federal government to investigate the murder of renowned journalist Arshad Sharif in Kenya.

In an interview with Independent Urdu, the PTI chairman said that he will appear before the three-member inquiry commission if summoned. Imran Khan said that PTI leaders Murad Saeed and Shireen Mazari had been in contact with Arshad and they will also cooperate in the investigation if inquiry commission summons them.

“Not only me, but Shireen Mazari and Murad Saeed also appear before probe commission in Arshad Sharif murder case.

 

[daytrader]

Businessmen brothers from Karachi arranged Arshad Sharif’s stay at Nairobi penthouse
Slain journalist Arshad Sharif was staying at a penthouse in an apartment building owned by businessmen brothers Waqar Ahmed and Khurram Ahmed during his, an investigation has established

KENYA, NAIROBI: Slain journalist Arshad Sharif was staying at a penthouse in an apartment building owned by businessmen brothers Waqar Ahmed and Khurram Ahmed during his, an investigation by The News has established.

A visit was made to the apartment block where Sharif spent the last 63 days of his life after arriving in Nairobi from Dubai on August 10 on a visit visa.

The building, located in a highly secure and relatively affluent area of Nairobi, has over 24 luxury flats occupied by private tenants. It’s understood that Waqar and Khurram reserved the penthouse exclusively for Sharif where the slain journalist stayed for over two months before his tragic killing some three hours out of Nairobi in a deserted area.

This is the same penthouse from where Sharif did his vlogs on YouTube after being removed from his job at a private channel.

The penthouse building has been visited by investigators who met Waqar Ahmed at the site for several hours and asked him questions about Sharif’s routine and what Waqar and Khurram knew about Sharif’s stay for two months.

Khurram and Waqar are originally from Karachi and both own and run several big property projects in Nairobi. They own a farmhouse and firing shooting camp some 300 hours out of the capital where Sharif was last seen before his death.

The role of both brothers is at the centre of the investigation by both Pakistani and Kenya investigators, The News understands speaking to authorities in both countries dealing with this matter.

Sharif provided details of the same penthouse apartment to the police when obtaining a visa for Kenya. He told the immigration authorities that he will be staying at the same apartment as it was owned by his main sponsor in Kenya, Waqar Ahmed, who arranged invitation and hospitality for Sharif at the request of a British-Pakistani businessman based in Dubai.

The apartment building is tall and located off a road just 10 minutes away from the Pakistan High Commission in Nairobi. This location is known to the local Pakistani and Indian community and it is widely known that Waqar Ahmed and his brother had developed the building and put it on rent.

The building is located next to a huge tower owned by an Indian businessman. In the neighbourhood, mostly foreigners, well off professionals and middle-class people either own or rent out flats.

The entry to the building is by invitation only and no one is allowed beyond the gate unless the flat owners permit so. At any time, the reception is manned by two to three security guards with guns.

The News sent questions to both Waqar and Khurram but they have not responded yet.

Their lawyer, however, stressed that Sharif was killed in a case of mistaken identity. Speaking on their behalf, Daniel Kiragu told The News that Kenyan police have said the same.

He said: “The Kenyan police issued a statement and regretted the shooting as a case of mistaken identity. That’s all we know for now. The investigations are still ongoing and our clients are fully cooperating with the investigation.”

However, this is not an account many in Kenya and Pakistan are prepared to believe. The Kenyan police contradicted its own statement of first saying that Sharif was killed in a case of mistaken identity at a roadblock and then alleged that shots were fired at the police from inside Sharif’s car and that he was killed when the response unit fired back.

After arriving in the Kenyan capital on Wednesday, The News investigation team revealed that slain journalist Sharif’s visit visa to Kenya was sponsored and he didn’t get an entry visa on arrival. The letter by the investigators confirms revelation by The News which was based on information passed by the immigration officials and senior Pakistani diplomats familiar with the investigation.

The sponsor letter to Mr Sharif to visit Kenya was sent by Waqar Ahmed, brother of Khurram Ahmed who was driving Sharif on the fateful night of 23rd of October 2022 when Sharif died.

Both Waqar and Khurram have been questioned by Pakistan’s investigation team - FIA director Athar Wahid and Intelligence Bureau (IB) deputy director general Omar Shahid Hamid - to ascertain the facts of the journalist’s murder.

The death of Sharif in Kenya and the role of the Kenyan police has caused outrage in Pakistan, leaving many wondering how such a thing could have happened.

The News PK

 

[Bewal Express]

Businessmen brothers from Karachi arranged Arshad Sharif’s stay at Nairobi penthouse
Slain journalist Arshad Sharif was staying at a penthouse in an apartment building owned by businessmen brothers Waqar Ahmed and Khurram Ahmed during his, an investigation has established

KENYA, NAIROBI: Slain journalist Arshad Sharif was staying at a penthouse in an apartment building owned by businessmen brothers Waqar Ahmed and Khurram Ahmed during his, an investigation by The News has established.

A visit was made to the apartment block where Sharif spent the last 63 days of his life after arriving in Nairobi from Dubai on August 10 on a visit visa.

The building, located in a highly secure and relatively affluent area of Nairobi, has over 24 luxury flats occupied by private tenants. It’s understood that Waqar and Khurram reserved the penthouse exclusively for Sharif where the slain journalist stayed for over two months before his tragic killing some three hours out of Nairobi in a deserted area.

This is the same penthouse from where Sharif did his vlogs on YouTube after being removed from his job at a private channel.

The penthouse building has been visited by investigators who met Waqar Ahmed at the site for several hours and asked him questions about Sharif’s routine and what Waqar and Khurram knew about Sharif’s stay for two months.

Khurram and Waqar are originally from Karachi and both own and run several big property projects in Nairobi. They own a farmhouse and firing shooting camp some 300 hours out of the capital where Sharif was last seen before his death.

The role of both brothers is at the centre of the investigation by both Pakistani and Kenya investigators, The News understands speaking to authorities in both countries dealing with this matter.

Sharif provided details of the same penthouse apartment to the police when obtaining a visa for Kenya. He told the immigration authorities that he will be staying at the same apartment as it was owned by his main sponsor in Kenya, Waqar Ahmed, who arranged invitation and hospitality for Sharif at the request of a British-Pakistani businessman based in Dubai.

The apartment building is tall and located off a road just 10 minutes away from the Pakistan High Commission in Nairobi. This location is known to the local Pakistani and Indian community and it is widely known that Waqar Ahmed and his brother had developed the building and put it on rent.

The building is located next to a huge tower owned by an Indian businessman. In the neighbourhood, mostly foreigners, well off professionals and middle-class people either own or rent out flats.

The entry to the building is by invitation only and no one is allowed beyond the gate unless the flat owners permit so. At any time, the reception is manned by two to three security guards with guns.

The News sent questions to both Waqar and Khurram but they have not responded yet.

Their lawyer, however, stressed that Sharif was killed in a case of mistaken identity. Speaking on their behalf, Daniel Kiragu told The News that Kenyan police have said the same.

He said: “The Kenyan police issued a statement and regretted the shooting as a case of mistaken identity. That’s all we know for now. The investigations are still ongoing and our clients are fully cooperating with the investigation.”

However, this is not an account many in Kenya and Pakistan are prepared to believe. The Kenyan police contradicted its own statement of first saying that Sharif was killed in a case of mistaken identity at a roadblock and then alleged that shots were fired at the police from inside Sharif’s car and that he was killed when the response unit fired back.

After arriving in the Kenyan capital on Wednesday, The News investigation team revealed that slain journalist Sharif’s visit visa to Kenya was sponsored and he didn’t get an entry visa on arrival. The letter by the investigators confirms revelation by The News which was based on information passed by the immigration officials and senior Pakistani diplomats familiar with the investigation.

The sponsor letter to Mr Sharif to visit Kenya was sent by Waqar Ahmed, brother of Khurram Ahmed who was driving Sharif on the fateful night of 23rd of October 2022 when Sharif died.

Both Waqar and Khurram have been questioned by Pakistan’s investigation team - FIA director Athar Wahid and Intelligence Bureau (IB) deputy director general Omar Shahid Hamid - to ascertain the facts of the journalist’s murder.

The death of Sharif in Kenya and the role of the Kenyan police has caused outrage in Pakistan, leaving many wondering how such a thing could have happened.

The News PK

The NEWS cant be trusted anymore for anything. A once good newspaper turned into a mafia mouthpiece. Lets see a UN investigation into this murder because criminals didnt like what he had to say

 

[MenInG]

A two-member investigation team that flew into Kenya to probe the murder of prominent journalist Arshad Sharif completed its work, said the Foreign Office spokesperson on Friday.

Speaking at a weekly news briefing Asim Iftikhar, however, told reporters that the findings of the two-member team could not be divulged at this stage.

Arshad was killed on the outskirts of Nairobi in what the Kenyan police described as an incident of "mistaken identity". However, the police’s claim was questioned even by the Kenyan media.

Pakistan authorities were also not satisfied with the police version and hence dispatched a two-member team comprising senior Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) and Intelligence Bureau (IB) officials. Initially, an ISI official was part of the investigation team but the DG ISI pulled him off given the country’s premier intelligence agency was also being named in the journalist’s murder.

At an unprecedented press conference, DG ISI Lt General Nadeem Anjum confirmed that he withdrew the ISI official to avoid any controversy.

“In principle that is the understanding between Pakistan and Kenya, that we have had and we will continue to have full cooperation and coordination from the Kenyan authorities on this matter,” the spokesperson explained.

“As for any details, I think it's not appropriate for me to divulge that, the two-member team has, at the moment completed its work at this stage. I think as per the terms of reference of this team, they are going to report to the Ministry of Interior, which is going to be the relevant government department to share any details,” he added.

Meanwhile, the spokesperson dismissed the suggestion that Pakistan’s support of the ‘One China’ policy and support on the issues of Taiwan and the South China Sea will harm its relationship with the US.

“I don't think so. These are Pakistan's long-stated and long-held principled positions in support of China's core issues. Pakistan has expressed its support for China all along and we will continue to do that. I don't think it should impact any of our bilateral relations with other countries,” he replied when asked to comment on the issue following the recent visit of PM Shebhaz to China.

He further said Pakistan was already benefiting from CPEC. “CPEC has been there on the ground for quite a while and it has contributed to rejuvenating Pakistan's economic development,” he added.

He said the first phase of CPEC was focused on energy shortfall and infrastructure projects.

“You're aware of the second phase that was focusing on agriculture, industrialization and socio-economic development, and there is a renewed focus now again on some of the major infrastructure projects. CPEC is a flagship project of BRI. It is a project that is aiming at the development and socio-economic progress, not only in Pakistan, but the entire region and beyond,” the spokesperson said.

Express Tribune

 

[daytrader]

ARSHAD SHARIF’S AUTOPSY REPORT: IHC SEEKS REPLY FROM RESPONDENTS BY NOV 15

ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Monday served notices to the respondents in a plea submitted by senior journalist Arshad Sharif’s mother Riffat Ara Alvi against the delay in providing the post-mortem report of her deceased son.

IHC Justice Aamir Farooqi heard the plea of Arshad Sharif’s mother. The court after initial arguments in the case, served notices to the respondents of the case and sought a response latest by November 15.

In her petition, Riffat Ara Alvi stated that the focal person of their family had sought a post-mortem report from the local administration on November 3.

It maintained that the administration had, however, told them that they do not have the report and that it was with the police. She added that when the family’s focal person went to the police, they also turned them away and told the deceased’s family to contact the administration.

“The PIMS and local administration have kept Arshad Sharif’s family in the dark about the post-mortem report and humiliated them during this difficult time,” said the application.

The petitioner said that she fears that the autopsy will be altered to distort the facts and thus, they should be kept informed at all times to ensure transparency.

“The postmortem report should be provided to Arshad Sharif’s family and should not be made public without the family’s permission,” requested the petitioner.

It is pertinent to mention here that the slain journalist’s mother has written a letter to Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Umar Ata Bandial, demanding the formation of a high-power judicial commission to probe Arshad Sharif’s killing.

In the letter, the mother urged CJP Umar Ata Bandial to take notice of ‘cruel actions’ of the government in the investigation of journalist’s killing and demanded justice for Sharif’s family.

“Sharif had written a letter to you [CJP Bandial], pointing out the death threats he was receiving and sedition cases that were registered against him across the country,” she noted in the letter.

ARY

 

[Humz]

Inna lillahi wa inna lillahi rajiun

Never agreed with his views, but really sad about his death.

No person deserves to be killed, the kenyan police needs to give a proper statement and not let media speculate.

Alot of people will blame pdm, but this is a collective failiure of all the politicians of the country. Every mna and senator is to be blamed.

We will cry about this death for a week, use it against the govt in power and after a week everything will go back to normal with no lessons learned.

It was during the last govt that decided to pass bills against journalist where they could be arrested etc if they talked against establishment. Peca and pmda were passed by them, and our jahil senators and mna passed it without discussing the impact it could have.

Govt changes, the law stayed and same laws came back to haunt them...

Media didnt talk about it back than.

Guys like Arshad had to flee and now he is dead.

IK and fans will blame pdm, pdm will blame ik.

But the law, the law stays, no one will blame the mnas and senators who pass such laws and overlook them due to the appeasement of their own party.

Collective failiure of the pakistani political system

Laws don't matter when the whole system is corrupt, 30 years later and Pakistani's still don't get it.

But hey let's give the brother of a corrupt leader a chance because who knows right?

 

[MenInG]

Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah on Tuesday said that journalist Arshad Sharif was killed in a “targeted attack”, stating that no evidence was found to support the narrative that he was shot dead in a case of “mistaken identity”.

On the night of October 23, Sharif was shot dead in Kenya allegedly by the local police. Initially, the Kenyan media quoted the local police as saying Sharif was shot dead by police in a case of “mistaken identity”.

However, reports from the Kenyan media later reconstructed the events surrounding the killing, stating that an occupant in Sharif’s car at the time of his killing was believed to have shot at paramilitary General Service Unit (GSU) officers.

The government subsequently formed a team which travelled to Kenya to investigate the killing.

 

[Pakpak]

Pictures all over social media

His nails pulled out, fingers broken, injuries on face knife marks on neck and bullet residue on his chest means he was shot point blank

He was tortured for hours before he was killed

I will get banned if I wrote more for people who support the government or estb

 

[Pakpak]

Drill holes on his wrists
Ribs shattered

Pmln released this after rumors bajwa was pressuring them for elections and after estb released their ministers naked video and after then when rana qaatil hinted that this was a target killing

 

[topspin]

Pictures all over social media

His nails pulled out, fingers broken, injuries on face knife marks on neck and bullet residue on his chest means he was shot point blank

He was tortured for hours before he was killed

I will get banned if I wrote more for people who support the government or estb

Are you sure the PDM were behind this? I just see it as Bajwa and the rest of his mean (+ ISI perhaps).

 

[Pakpak]

Are you sure the PDM were behind this? I just see it as Bajwa and the rest of his mean (+ ISI perhaps).

Pdm was behind all his FIRs and all the hassling they have given to journos. And many of members are known qaatils. I know Rana Qaatils history myself as my family is from his city.

About his actual killing and the way he was tortured I doubt it was PDM. However it's obvious PDM knows who it was due to the *** for tat "leaks" the last two days

 

[topspin]

Pdm was behind all his FIRs and all the hassling they have given to journos. And many of members are known qaatils. I know Rana Qaatils history myself as my family is from his city.

About his actual killing and the way he was tortured I doubt it was PDM. However it's obvious PDM knows who it was due to the *** for tat "leaks" the last two days

Thanks for this.

I'm still trying to figure out who is in the establishment - whoever they are, they're holding Pakistan back in every possible way.

 

[Pakpak]

After yesterday's torture revelations wonder if anyone from the estb will face justice?

 

[MenInG]

Slain journalist Arshad Sharif was brutally tortured for hours before being shot dead according to post-mortem reports, claimed a private TV channel on Wednesday night.

The journalist hosting the show also claimed that Sharif was shot at close range and that this was not a case of mistaken identity but a 'planned murder'.

He further claimed that the slain journalist’s fingernails were pulled out and his fingers and ribs were broken during torture.

The senior journalist, on his show, further stated that around '10 American instructors and trainers' were present at the shooting range on the day of Sharif's murder.

According to the host of the show, Sharif's contact in Kenya, Khurram, decided to take a longer route back to the city on the day of the murder instead of the oft-used Magadi Highway route on October 23.

The private TV program further claimed that the Kenyan authorities did not cooperate with the investigation either, adding that they also avoided giving information about the persons present at the range.

Sharif was shot dead on the outskirts of Kenya's Nairobi city on October 23. His death sent shock waves across rights organisations, the media fraternity and civil society and prompted calls for thorough investigation and disclosure of facts.

Earlier, Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah said evidence suggested Sharif was the victim of a targeted killing in Kenya, not an accidental shooting, though he still needed more information on the incident.

Kenyan police spokesman Bruno Shioso declined to respond to the minister's comments on the death of the TV journalist.

A police report a day after the shooting said police officers hunting car thieves opened fire on the vehicle that Sharif was traveling in as it drove through their roadblock without stopping.

Shioso said the case was now being investigated by the police watchdog, the state Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA). A spokesperson at the IPOA did not immediately respond to calls and a message seeking comment.

The government had formed an investigation team to look into the matter, which caused uproar in the country. The minister said the team had returned from Kenya, but Kenyan police had not yet given Pakistani investigators all of Sharif's recovered belongings.

Express Tribune

 

[daytrader]

ARSHAD SHARIF CASE: KENYAN JOURNALIST SAYS ‘NO SCIENTIFIC FINDING OF THREE-HOUR TORTURE IN AUTOPSY REPORT’

Kenyan investigative journalist Brian Obuya revealed on Thursday that there was no mention of three-hour torture in the slain senior journalist Arshad Sharif’s autopsy report prepared by Kenyan authorities, ARY News reported.

While talking to the ARY News programme Sawal Yeh Hai today, Kenyan journalist Brian Obuya said that the autopsy report prepared in Kenya did not mention any signs of torture on Arshad Sharif’s body.

It is pertinent to mention here that on Wednesday, a private TV channel’s anchor did a so-called investigative report alleging that Arshad Sharif was tortured for hours before being killed and showed graphic images of the martyr’s body to support his claim.

Refuting such reports, Obuya said one or two nails were picked from Arshad Sharif’s hand due DNA test which is a routine procedure. Obuya said that the DNA testing of the nail will ascertain the details of objects touched by the victim.

The Kenyan journalist detailed, “Samples of liver were taken for chemical examination, whereas, Sharif’s blood samples were also taken. In the post-mortem report, broken ribs or fingers were not mentioned. We should avoid speculations until the doctor’s statement who conducted the post-mortem.”

Commenting on the rumours regarding the slain journalist’s post-mortem report, “No haste should be exhibited in this matter. It is a sensitive issue and we should only discuss the facts. Disinformation will only help the real culprit.”

Regarding the post-mortem report, “I don’t think that any doctor can ascertain the duration of torture during autopsy. There is no scientific finding of three-hour torture. I suspect that disinformation is being spread regarding the torture.”

In a Twitter message, Obuya said, “In Pakistan, there is renewed DISINFORMATION and SENSATION over the brutal murder of #ArshadSharif, that is threatening the credibility of the probe. Sections of Media are reporting that the Journalist was TORTURED for THREE HOURS. That “finding” is NOT SCIENTIFIC.”

In another tweet, the investigative journalist said, “Reports allege that #ArshadSharif was tortured for three hours. While an autopsy can reveal torture, it cannot tell “Duration of the torture,” such an attempt makes it unbelievable. Part of Sharif’s finger nails were retained during first autopsy for DNA. As shown in the excerpt.”

ARY

 

[Pakpak]

ARSHAD SHARIF CASE: KENYAN JOURNALIST SAYS ‘NO SCIENTIFIC FINDING OF THREE-HOUR TORTURE IN AUTOPSY REPORT’

Kenyan investigative journalist Brian Obuya revealed on Thursday that there was no mention of three-hour torture in the slain senior journalist Arshad Sharif’s autopsy report prepared by Kenyan authorities, ARY News reported.

While talking to the ARY News programme Sawal Yeh Hai today, Kenyan journalist Brian Obuya said that the autopsy report prepared in Kenya did not mention any signs of torture on Arshad Sharif’s body.

It is pertinent to mention here that on Wednesday, a private TV channel’s anchor did a so-called investigative report alleging that Arshad Sharif was tortured for hours before being killed and showed graphic images of the martyr’s body to support his claim.

Refuting such reports, Obuya said one or two nails were picked from Arshad Sharif’s hand due DNA test which is a routine procedure. Obuya said that the DNA testing of the nail will ascertain the details of objects touched by the victim.

The Kenyan journalist detailed, “Samples of liver were taken for chemical examination, whereas, Sharif’s blood samples were also taken. In the post-mortem report, broken ribs or fingers were not mentioned. We should avoid speculations until the doctor’s statement who conducted the post-mortem.”

Commenting on the rumours regarding the slain journalist’s post-mortem report, “No haste should be exhibited in this matter. It is a sensitive issue and we should only discuss the facts. Disinformation will only help the real culprit.”

Regarding the post-mortem report, “I don’t think that any doctor can ascertain the duration of torture during autopsy. There is no scientific finding of three-hour torture. I suspect that disinformation is being spread regarding the torture.”

In a Twitter message, Obuya said, “In Pakistan, there is renewed DISINFORMATION and SENSATION over the brutal murder of #ArshadSharif, that is threatening the credibility of the probe. Sections of Media are reporting that the Journalist was TORTURED for THREE HOURS. That “finding” is NOT SCIENTIFIC.”

In another tweet, the investigative journalist said, “Reports allege that #ArshadSharif was tortured for three hours. While an autopsy can reveal torture, it cannot tell “Duration of the torture,” such an attempt makes it unbelievable. Part of Sharif’s finger nails were retained during first autopsy for DNA. As shown in the excerpt.”

ARY

Yes not only Arshad took out his own nails, then drilled a hole in his own right wrist and then broke his fingers at the same time punching himself and shattering his ribs and then decided to shoot himself but not before taking pictures of it all

 

[DHONI183]

It pains my soul, it shatters my heart into pieces to even think about the horrendous torture that poor Arshad was subjected before being murdered. It is a story of horror and immense pain. I can´t even imagine what his mother, wives, and children must be going through at finding out about all this.

The social media has done its bit on grilling Kamran Shahid already for showing all those photos in his show, so I´ll leave that for now, but what an embarrassment is Kamran to journalism! Wow!

 

[daytrader]

Pims committee summons officials over leak of Arshad Sharif's autopsy pictures

ISLAMABAD: At least a dozen officials of the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims) have been summoned by the inquiry committee formed to probe the leak of the autopsy pictures of slain journalist Arshad Sharif which were featured in a TV show on a private media outlet.

The Pims management has also decided to approach the Pakistan Electronic Regulatory Authority (Pemra) to take action against Dunya News for airing the pictures of the late journalist taken during the postmortem at the hospital.

According to a document available with Dawn, the two-member inquiry committee headed by Dr Naveed A. Sheikh summoned officers, in exercise of the powers conferred by Section 25 of the Civil Servant Ordinance 1973, on Nov 14 (Monday) at 9:30am in the conference room of the hospital.

Officers who have been summoned include Hospital Director Dr Khalid Masood, Medical Director Dr S. Hashim Raza, medical board chairman Dr S.H. Waqar, all members of the medical board, Director IT Mohammad Sohail and Cameraman Medical Board Mohiuddin.

Dr Masood awaiting forensic report to confirm cause of death

The committee could summon any other official of the hospital if required.

Hospital Director Dr Khalid Masood, while talking to Dawn, said it was unfortunate that the pictures were leaked and went viral on social media.

“I decided to establish an inquiry committee to investigate who was responsible for the leak. Moreover, we have decided to approach Pemra to note how a news channel can show pictures and hurt the family’s feelings. In my opinion, it was unethical and Pemra should take notice,” he said, adding that the hospital will write to the regulatory authority on Monday.

When asked why he was not sharing the postmortem report with the family of late Arshad Sharif, Dr Khalid Masood said initially the family did not contact him and the application was submitted in the office of the joint executive officer (JED).

“I stand by my words that the family did not contact me, contrary to news run by electronic media that the family was contacting me since the first day. The fact is that the family contacted me on Nov 10 and I sought a clarification from the JED,” he added.

He said the JED had informed him that the postmortem report was shared with the police on the very first day.

“However, the family was informed that according to rules, they have to contact police or get the report through a court,” Dr Masood added.

“Moreover the forensic report is yet to arrive so we are not in a position to comment about the [cause of] death with certainty,” he said.

Arshad Sharif was shot dead by Kenyan police near Nairobi on Oct 23 in an alleged case of ‘mistaken identity’. While investigations are underway to probe Arshad Sharif’s death, several TV channels claimed on Wednesday that the journalist was tortured and shot at close range after he was asked to step out of his car.

DAWN

 

[daytrader]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">I dedicate this to Arshad Sharif who took a stand against injustice despite threats to his life.</p>— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ImranKhanPTI/status/1592003179134291971?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 14, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[MenInG]

A two-member investigation team of Pakistani officials on Monday reached the United Arab Emirates to determine the facts surrounding the killing of senior journalist Arshad Sharif.

Sources told The Express Tribune that the team will investigate Sharif's arrival in Dubai and the time spent there.

 

[ex-q-zit]

FIA summons Vawda, Murad in connection with Arshad Sharif’s murder

The fact-finding committee of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has summoned PTI leaders Murad Saeed and Faisal Vawda in connection with the murder of journalist Arshad Sharif.

Express News quoting sources reported on Tuesday that the PTI leaders were aware of the threats to the slain journalist, who was allegedly shot dead by Kenyan police last month.
Advertisement: 0:08
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Vawda and Saeed have been served notices wherein they were asked to appear before the committee at the FIA headquarters on Monday along with the evidence of threats to the journalist.

Disgruntled PTI leader Vawda held an explosive press conference last month, wherein he not only claimed that senior anchorperson Arshad Sharif’s murder was pre-planned but also warned those allegedly planning to kill him of fatal retaliation.

“If Arshad Sharif can get shot then anyone can,” he had said at the National Press Club, adding that the senior anchorperson’s killing was not an accident.

Vawda had claimed that Sharif was killed under a conspiracy hatched within the country, adding that even his mobile and laptop would not be found as all “evidence has been erased”.

Meanwhile, a two-member investigation team of Pakistani officials reached the United Arab Emirates on Monday to determine the facts surrounding the killing of senior journalist.

Sources told The Express Tribune that the team will investigate Sharif's arrival in Dubai and the time spent there.

They said that the two-member team comprising Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) Headquarters Director Athar Waheed and Intelligence Bureau (IB) Deputy Director Umar Shahid Hamid presented their report to the interior ministry following their visit to Kenya, where Sharif was murdered last month.

Sharif was shot dead on the outskirts of Kenya's Nairobi city on October 23. His death sent shock waves across rights organisations, the media fraternity and civil society and prompted calls for thorough investigation and disclosure of facts.

Tribune

 

[MenInG]

Journalist Arshad Sharif, who was shot dead by Kenyan police last month in an alleged case of ‘mistaken identity’, sustained multiple injuries, which give credence to the speculations of torture, prior to his death, according to a report of the autopsy conducted by Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims).

Sources familiar with the investigation said that an eight-member medical board which conducted the autopsy on October 26, a day after the body was received from Nairobi, was of the opinion that “all the injuries were antemortem in nature”. The term antemortem injuries” is used for injuries that occur before death.

As per the report quoted by sources, the deceased died due to firearm injuries that caused “damage to the brain and right lung”. The report added that the right clavicle bone (collarbone) and right third rib were also found fractured.

The sources said a part of the left upper parietal bone (skull) of the slain journalist was found to be missing. During the autopsy, the doctors found a dozen injuries on the body, besides wounds at his left lower neck and the left shoulder, they added.


According to the post-mortem report, Mr Sharif was missing four nails on his left hand while the nail bed of his middle and ring fingers was also bruised. His left eye was found black as well, they added.

The board is of the opinion that the injuries were sufficient to cause death in the ordinary course of nature, the sources added. During the autopsy, a piece of metal believed to be the shell of a bullet had also been recovered which had been handed over to the police for forensic examination, they said.

Published in Dawn, November 16th, 2022

 

[MenInG]

The Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC) — a non-governmental organisation — on Thursday termed the killing of journalist Arshad Sharif as "well-planned" and "clearly choreographed".

Sharif was shot dead in Kenya on October 24. Initially, Kenyan media quoted the local police as saying Sharif was shot dead by police in a case of “mistaken identity”.

But later reports from the Kenyan media reconstructed the events surrounding the killing, stating that an occupant in Sharif’s car at the time of his killing was believed to have shot at paramilitary General Service Unit (GSU) officers.

Earlier this week, a Dawn report, while quoting an autopsy conducted by the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims), said that the journalist had sustained multiple antemortem injuries. The term "antemortem injuries” is used for injuries that occur before death.

In an exclusive interview with Geo News today, KHRC's senior programme advisor Martin Mavenjina — who is also a lawyer in the Kenyan High Court — said Sharif's murder investigation pointed towards an "inside job".

He said that the killing depicted that the journalist was under surveillance for a "good period of time".

"The arising question is how did the security agencies know Sharif was present in a specific locality at that time," he said, claiming that the Kenyan police hid behind the "mistaken identity" excuse as there was no corroborative evidence available of that.

Mavenjina, who has documented human rights abuses by the Kenya police, accused them of being notorious for unlawful killings and enforced disappearances.

“The Kenya police are guilty as charged. Their excuse of mistaken identity doesn’t hold water because when you file a complaint to the police you give a clear description of the vehicle. In this case, the vehicle in which Sharif was traveling was a V8 Land cruiser. These are the vehicles used by cabinet members, parliamentarians, and VIPs,” he said.

The Kenyan lawyer claimed that Sharif's shooters were trained for a long period of time. “Ordinarily it is very difficult to get a headshot on a very specific target or an individual in a moving vehicle. Even at a close range, it is very difficult but if you look at circumstances in which Sharif was shot at two places, this was well-planned.”

He added that the roadblocks were placed for a purpose, elaborating that when there are roadblocks in Kenya, people are told their IDs will be checked but no such thing happened in this case.

Mavenjina also explained how the Constitution of Kenya guided the police on how to respect human rights and protect them. “Look at how Sharif was killed. It shows there was an outright disregard for the Constitution and human rights.”

He said that the Kenyan police were number third in corruption throughout the world and gave examples of instances where the Kenyan police killed innocent people.

“Police killed more Kenyans than Covid-19 in the first six months of the outbreak,” he added.

Dawn

 

[Bewal Express]

The Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC) — a non-governmental organisation — on Thursday termed the killing of journalist Arshad Sharif as "well-planned" and "clearly choreographed".

Sharif was shot dead in Kenya on October 24. Initially, Kenyan media quoted the local police as saying Sharif was shot dead by police in a case of “mistaken identity”.

But later reports from the Kenyan media reconstructed the events surrounding the killing, stating that an occupant in Sharif’s car at the time of his killing was believed to have shot at paramilitary General Service Unit (GSU) officers.

Earlier this week, a Dawn report, while quoting an autopsy conducted by the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims), said that the journalist had sustained multiple antemortem injuries. The term "antemortem injuries” is used for injuries that occur before death.

In an exclusive interview with Geo News today, KHRC's senior programme advisor Martin Mavenjina — who is also a lawyer in the Kenyan High Court — said Sharif's murder investigation pointed towards an "inside job".

He said that the killing depicted that the journalist was under surveillance for a "good period of time".

"The arising question is how did the security agencies know Sharif was present in a specific locality at that time," he said, claiming that the Kenyan police hid behind the "mistaken identity" excuse as there was no corroborative evidence available of that.

Mavenjina, who has documented human rights abuses by the Kenya police, accused them of being notorious for unlawful killings and enforced disappearances.

“The Kenya police are guilty as charged. Their excuse of mistaken identity doesn’t hold water because when you file a complaint to the police you give a clear description of the vehicle. In this case, the vehicle in which Sharif was traveling was a V8 Land cruiser. These are the vehicles used by cabinet members, parliamentarians, and VIPs,” he said.

The Kenyan lawyer claimed that Sharif's shooters were trained for a long period of time. “Ordinarily it is very difficult to get a headshot on a very specific target or an individual in a moving vehicle. Even at a close range, it is very difficult but if you look at circumstances in which Sharif was shot at two places, this was well-planned.”

He added that the roadblocks were placed for a purpose, elaborating that when there are roadblocks in Kenya, people are told their IDs will be checked but no such thing happened in this case.

Mavenjina also explained how the Constitution of Kenya guided the police on how to respect human rights and protect them. “Look at how Sharif was killed. It shows there was an outright disregard for the Constitution and human rights.”

He said that the Kenyan police were number third in corruption throughout the world and gave examples of instances where the Kenyan police killed innocent people.

“Police killed more Kenyans than Covid-19 in the first six months of the outbreak,” he added.

Dawn

The shootout and stolen car narrative gone out of the window. Evil establishment killing a great patriotic man. Shaheed Arshad Sharifs death has to be avenged

 

[MenInG]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">My letter to President of Pakistan <a href="https://twitter.com/ArifAlvi?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ArifAlvi</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/PresOfPakistan?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@PresOfPakistan</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/JusticeForArshadSharif?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#JusticeForArshadSharif</a> <a href="https://t.co/0H2863Jku6">pic.twitter.com/0H2863Jku6</a></p>— Javeria Siddique (@javerias) <a href="https://twitter.com/javerias/status/1593622396258451462?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 18, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[MenInG]

The spokesperson of the Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz’s London chapter, Tasneem Haider Shah, has alleged that the assassination plots against PTI chief Imran Khan and slain senior journalist Arshad Sharif were prepared by PML-N in London, ARY News reported on Sunday.

Tasneem Haider Shah – the PML-N London spokesperson – levelled serious allegations against his party’s top leadership and claimed that the assassination plots against former premier and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan and slain senior journalist Arshad Sharif were prepared in London.

While addressing a press conference in London today, he claimed that he held three meetings with PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif at Hussain Nawaz’s office in London. “I am associated with the PML-N for the last 20 years. I was summoned for the meeting to prepare a plot to assassinate Imran Khan and Arshad Sharif.”

“The first meeting was held on July 8, the second on September 20 and the third on October 29. I was told to eliminate Arshad Sharif and then Imran Khan before the appointment of the new army chief. Nasir Butt introduced me to Nawaz Sharif as an influential person from Gujrat. Nawaz Sharif was told that Tasneem Haider had connections with the shooters who can complete the task.”

The PML-N London spokesperson claimed that Nawaz Sharif had asked him to provide shooters. He further alleged that Sharif had also vowed to spot a place in Wazirabad and the Punjab government will be blamed for the assassination plot.

“After my rejection, I was told that they arranged shooters for the task. I have pictures of the meetings and I have informed the British police regarding the conspiracy. Only Nawaz Sharif and Nasir Butt were present in two out of three meetings.”

Shah claimed that he is ready to record his testimony before the investigation institutions of Pakistan. He added that Nawaz Sharif had asked him to start working on the plan after Maryam Nawaz reaches London.

He directly blamed PML-N for carrying out the gun attack on Imran Khan and the assassination of Arshad Sharif.

Tasneem Haider Shah revealed that PML-N was also aware of the journalist’s location in Kenya and he was told that Arshad Sharif will be assassinated in Kenya.

It is pertinent to mention here that the slain senior journalist and former anchorperson of ARY News Arshad Sharif was assassinated in the Kenyan capital Nairobi on October 23, whereas, the gun attack on PTI chief Imran Khan was carried out on November 3 in Wazirabad during the long march.

ARY

 

[Bewal Express]

The spokesperson of the Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz’s London chapter, Tasneem Haider Shah, has alleged that the assassination plots against PTI chief Imran Khan and slain senior journalist Arshad Sharif were prepared by PML-N in London, ARY News reported on Sunday.

Tasneem Haider Shah – the PML-N London spokesperson – levelled serious allegations against his party’s top leadership and claimed that the assassination plots against former premier and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan and slain senior journalist Arshad Sharif were prepared in London.

While addressing a press conference in London today, he claimed that he held three meetings with PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif at Hussain Nawaz’s office in London. “I am associated with the PML-N for the last 20 years. I was summoned for the meeting to prepare a plot to assassinate Imran Khan and Arshad Sharif.”

“The first meeting was held on July 8, the second on September 20 and the third on October 29. I was told to eliminate Arshad Sharif and then Imran Khan before the appointment of the new army chief. Nasir Butt introduced me to Nawaz Sharif as an influential person from Gujrat. Nawaz Sharif was told that Tasneem Haider had connections with the shooters who can complete the task.”

The PML-N London spokesperson claimed that Nawaz Sharif had asked him to provide shooters. He further alleged that Sharif had also vowed to spot a place in Wazirabad and the Punjab government will be blamed for the assassination plot.

“After my rejection, I was told that they arranged shooters for the task. I have pictures of the meetings and I have informed the British police regarding the conspiracy. Only Nawaz Sharif and Nasir Butt were present in two out of three meetings.”

Shah claimed that he is ready to record his testimony before the investigation institutions of Pakistan. He added that Nawaz Sharif had asked him to start working on the plan after Maryam Nawaz reaches London.

He directly blamed PML-N for carrying out the gun attack on Imran Khan and the assassination of Arshad Sharif.

Tasneem Haider Shah revealed that PML-N was also aware of the journalist’s location in Kenya and he was told that Arshad Sharif will be assassinated in Kenya.

It is pertinent to mention here that the slain senior journalist and former anchorperson of ARY News Arshad Sharif was assassinated in the Kenyan capital Nairobi on October 23, whereas, the gun attack on PTI chief Imran Khan was carried out on November 3 in Wazirabad during the long march.

ARY

This is a red herring- i wouldnt trust anyone involved with the Sharifs. These are not people that will have a crisis of conscience. This is a game that will only become clear as we go along.

 

[Bewal Express]

Its seems the mafia is at war with each other- Ahmed Noorani has exposed Bajwa and his stolen billions and in return this guy does a press conference against NS. All this linked to the COAS appointment and which mafia guy becomes the head honcho. This is a territorial war between the 2 biggest mafias- the army and the family businesses.

 

[Bewal Express]

As much as i hate the Sharifs this guy is a tout of the Bajwa and the ISI. This is turf war. Dont get me wrong, its something they could and would do but they wouldnt do the planning in front of group outside their own family.

 

[Double Trouble]

Is this bloke credible?

We will find out soon

Crazy stuff going on

 

[Cricket-lion]

Is this bloke credible?

We will find out soon

Crazy stuff going on

Its all a drama. There will never be an open public hearing to get to the bottom of the issue and the truth.

Arshad Sharif should have recorded a direct video as his life was in threat. He should have named who threatened him and who he thinks are responsible. He should have left that with someone trust worthy.

 

[MenInG]

Former Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Faisal Vawda on Monday appeared before the fact-finding committee established for the investigation of senior journalist Arshad Sharif’s murder case.

Faisal reached the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) ​​headquarters in Islamabad and appeared before the fact-finding committee.

Talking to media personnel after his appearance, Vawda stated that the agency had given him a ten-question-long questionnaire.

He claimed that the journalist’s murder was planned in Pakistan and that the fact-finding committee was doing great work.

“Hopefully the untouchable bigwigs will be reached,” he said.

Faisal further stated that the CEO of a local news channel had “nothing” to do with the case and requested that he return to Pakistan.

He also said that pushing PTI chief Imran Khan into the party’s long march was akin to taking him to a dead-end.

“I will not become prime minister if Imran Khan is disqualified, these people will,” he said, not naming any official. He further urged Imran to “clean up” the PTI.

On the other hand, PTI leader Murad Saeed's claimed that an “impartial, transparent and independent inquiry” could not be expected from the FIA ​​in the context of the current situation and due to the attitude of the federal government.

He stated that the incumbent government played a controversial role regarding the official autopsy of Arshad Sharif.

Murad maintained that the fact-finding committee should investigate who were the plaintiffs who registered more than 16 cases against Sharif and what “elements” were behind them. He further said that the fact-finding committee should uncover who was threatened by Sharif’s journalism, who would harass and threaten the journalist while he was in the country and who released pictures of his departure to Dubai.

He further said that the request for Sharif to leave Dubai, and whoever was behind the request, should be traced. Murad also questioned which powerful Pakistani the journalist was compiling a report against.

Fact-finding committee

The Interior ministry’s fact-finding team formed to probe slain journalist Arshad Sharif’s murder had called the PTI leaders and asked them to present evidence, if any, before the team at the FIA headquarters.

The team asked for the leaders’ help because they were close to the journalist. Faisal Vawda’s press conference related to the slain journalist following his murder raised some eyebrows, suggesting that he might be helpful in leading the case to its logical conclusion.

The team, which consists of Director FIA Athar Waheed and Deputy Director General Intelligence Bureau (IB) Shahid Hamid, provided its initial report to the interior ministry after concluding the investigation in Kenya.

After concluding the Kenyan chapter, the team is currently in Dubai to closely look into the activities of the journalist throughout his journey.

 

[Bewal Express]

As much as i hate the Sharifs this guy is a tout of the Bajwa and the ISI. This is turf war. Dont get me wrong, its something they could and would do but they wouldnt do the planning in front of group outside their own family.

Things are really bad for the Sharifs when Geo accuses this Tasneem of being a criminal. Well if he is a criminal then way has Geo and the paid touts not kicked up a fuss on why he is so close to the Sharifs. Are they saying that its ok for the defacto PM to be having meetings with a criminal. Geo is a criminal front and if IK comes back to power, then the owner should be charged with conspiracy and criminality.

 

[MenInG]

The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) and Intelligence Bureau (IB) on Tuesday wrote a letter to the Consul General of Pakistan in Dubai seeking information on slain journalist Arshad Sharif’s stay in the city before his murder earlier this year.

Sharif was shot dead in Kenya on October 24. Initially, Kenyan media quoted the local police as saying Sharif was shot dead by police in a case of “mistaken identity”.

But later reports from the Kenyan media reconstructed the events surrounding the killing, stating that an occupant in Sharif’s car at the time of his killing was believed to have shot at paramilitary General Service Unit (GSU) officers.

The government subsequently formed a team that travelled to Kenya to investigate the killing.

It is pertinent to mention here that Sharif left Pakistan in August after a number of cases were registered against him. It was reported that he was initially staying in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) after which he went to Kenya.

Earlier, PTI had alleged that the journalist was “forced” to leave Dubai by authorities in Pakistan. The Foreign Office had, however, dismissed these claims.

In the letter today, a copy of which is available with Dawn.com, the FIA and IB said that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had formed a two-member fact-finding committee to probe the journalist’s murder.

“In this regard, the team has already visited Kenya and is now pursuing some leads in Dubai,” it stated, requesting the Dubai police authorities to assist the investigating team with the following points:

Copy of visa and travel-related documents issued to Arshad Sharif
Identification of the place of residence of Arshad Sharif during his stay in Dubai from August 10 to August 20.
Any CCTV footage, if available, of the premises.
A mapping of the movement of Arshad Sharif during his stay in Dubai.
Any information regarding any persons he met during his stay.
Clarification over whether Sharif’s visa was canceled and if so, any reasons why.
CDR (call data record) of Sharif’s phone, which as per information, was in use during his stay.
Any data on arrivals and departures of Pakistani passport holders from August 10 to August 20.
CDR of the phone numbers of ARY News CEO Salman Iqbal and ARY operations head Tariq Wasi.
Any information about whether any UAE government officials met Arshad Sharif and asked him to leave the country.
The letter further requested the Dubai authorities to nominate a focal person from the local police to “liaise with” the investigating team in Pakistan.

Dawn

 

[daytrader]

JIT to record statement of man alleging Nawaz involved in Arshad Sharif’s killing

ISLAMABAD: The joint investigation team (JIT) constituted to probe into Arshad Sharif’s killing in Kenya is scheduled to record on Wednesday (today) the statement of the man who accused former prime minister Nawaz Sharif of being part of the plot to murder the journalist and the assassination attempt on former prime minister Imran Khan.

Over a week ago, UK-based Syed Tasneem Haider Shah had in a press conference claimed to be a spokesman for the PML-N’s London chapter and made these allegations. He had claimed he was part of the meetings, which were also attended by the PML-N supremo, where plans for the two ‘murders’ were discussed.

Sharif was shot dead in Kenya on Oct 24. Initially, the Kenyan media quoted the local police as saying he had been shot dead in a case of “mistaken identity”. But later, conflicting reports around the events that led to the murder started trickling in from both the local and Kenyan media. The government subsequently formed a team that travelled to Nairobi to investigate the incident.

The JIT also informed the Supreme Court on Tuesday that the preliminary report on Sharif’s killing would be filed by next week.

Sources privy to the development told Dawn that in response to the summons issued to Shah for recording his statement, his counsel informed the JIT that owing to the threats to his client’s life, Shah was unable to appear in person. The lawyer however informed the team through an email that Shah was willing to testify through a video link. Subsequently, the JIT is scheduled to record the statement on Wednesday (today).

The two-member team — comprising Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) Director Athar Wahid and Intelligence Bureau Deputy Director General Omar Shahid Hamid — had a week ago summoned Shah to appear before the agency on Tuesday to provide evidence that he claimed to have linking Nawaz to the attacks on Arshad Sharif and Imran Khan.

Shah was contacted after he had claimed in a press conference that Arshad Sharif’s mobile phone and laptop had reached London and were in the possession of PML-N UK Senior Vice President Nasir Butt. He further claimed Mr Butt had links with Waqar Ahmad and Khurram Ahmad — the brothers who reportedly hosted Sharif in Nairobi and sponsored his visa to Kenya on the request of Mr Tariq Wasi, the chief of Karachi Kings cricket team and the head of operations of ARY News. He claimed Mr Butt had told him about these links.

Meanwhile, the sources said the JIT, in response to a query of the Human Rights Cell (HRC) of the Supreme Court, stated that the preliminary fact-finding report would be ready and submitted to the court by next week.

The sources said the report would also highlight the issues and lack of cooperation from relevant quarters.

The investigators are seeking from the Pakistani consulate a copy of the visa and other travel documents issued to Arshad Sharif; identification of the place where he stayed in Dubai from Aug 10 to 20; any CCTV footage of the premises; mapping of his movement in Dubai; information regarding the people he might have met during his stay; clarification over whether Sharif’s visa was canceled and if so, any reasons why; call data record (CDR) of his phone, which as per information, was in use during his stay; data on the arrivals and departures of Pakistani passport-holders from Aug 10 to 20; CDR of the phone numbers of ARY News CEO Salman Iqbal and Mr Wasi.

The sources said the JIT also sought information about a UAE government official who allegedly advised Sharif to leave Dubai over ‘security concerns’.

DAWN

 

[MenInG]

Former prime minister and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan has penned down a letter to Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Umar Ata Bandial, demanding a judicial inquiry into killing of journalist Arshad Sharif, ARY News reported on Saturday.

According to details, the former premier wrote a letter to CJP Umar Ata Bandial and demanded a judicial inquiry into killing of Arshad Sharif.

In the letter, Imran Khan demanded the chief justice to constitute a ‘free’ judicial commission to investigate the murder of senior journalist.

Thousands of Pakistani citizens have written letters to Chief Justice of Pakistan, demanding justice for the journalist.

Earlier in December, the daughter of martyr journalist Arshad Sharif, Alizah Arshad wrote a letter to the Supreme Court (SC) judges and demanded the constitution of a judicial commission to probe into her father’s assassination case.

Alizah Arshad stated in her letter that she is seeking justice for her father who had been martyred in Kenya 36 days ago. As an investigative journalist, her father exposed the corruption of elites and presented evidence, she wrote.

She pleaded with the honourable judges having influential positions to serve justice to the victims. She requested the SC judges to constitute a judicial commission and conduct the hearings in open court.

Alizah said that the assassins of her father must be given strict punishment due to their barbarism. Justice delayed is justice denied, she concluded.

 

[daytrader]

CJP Bandial takes suo motu notice of Arshad Sharif’s ‘brutal killing’

Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Umar Ata Bandial has taken suo motu notice of the “ brutal killing“ of journalist Arshad Sharif, a statement issued by the Supreme Court (SC) said on Tuesday.

The development comes three days after PTI chief Imran Khan penned a letter to CJP Bandial, asking him to conduct an independent judicial inquiry into the killing of Sharif, who was shot dead in Kenya on Oct 24.

The matter has been fixed for hearing before the apex court at 12:30pm today, the SC statement said, adding that notices were issued to the interior secretary, foreign affairs secretary, information and broadcasting secretary, Federal Investigation Agency director general (DG), Intelligence Bureau DG and Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists president.

A five-member bench, headed by the CJP, would hear the case, the statement said.

It added, “The journalist community in the country and the public at large are deeply distressed and are concerned about the death of the senior journalist and are seeking the court’s scrutiny of the matter.”

Imran and other PTI leaders have been demanding an investigation into the “targeted killing” of the renowned journalist, claiming that he was forced to leave Pakistan for the United Arab Emirates and later the Gulf region as well — where he had stayed for a short time before heading to Kenya. The Foreign Office has, however, dismissed these claims.

Moreover, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had announced last month that a judicial commission would be formed to probe the matter and subsequently wrote to the CJP about his request.

Sharif’s mother had also penned a letter to the CJP on November 2, requesting the formation of a high-powered judicial commission to investigate the murder.

Welcome decision
Politicians have welcomed the SC’s decision to take suo motu notice of Sharif’s killing, highlighting the apex court’s role in protecting human rights.

PTI leader Fawad Chaudhry hailed the decision, saying: “The people expect the SC and the judges to stand up for basic human rights despite pressure for the sovereignty of the Constitution, and will protect human rights.”

Awami Muslim League (AML) chief Sheikh Rashid Ahmed also welcomed the development, predicting that several “hidden faces” would be unmasked during the trial.

“The nation is also looking towards the SC regarding the attack on Imran Khan and the Azam Swati case.” He advised the coalition government to prepare for the next general election instead of working on disqualifying the PTI chief.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, while speaking at an event organised by Islamabad Journalist Safety Forum moments before the SC’s statement was released, said he had spoken to the Kenyan president regarding Sharif’s killing.

He said Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari had been in contact with the authorities concerned, while he himself had spoken to agencies in Pakistan for speedy action. “I have also written a letter to the CJP to constitute a commission [to probe the case] and I hope action will be taken in this regard.”

The premier also stated that no journalist or human rights defender should be attacked for exercising freedom of expression guaranteed under the Constitution.

The killing
Sharif had left Pakistan in August after a number of cases were registered against him. It was reported that he was initially staying in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) after which he went to Kenya, where he was shot dead.

Initially, Kenyan media had quoted the local police as saying Sharif was shot dead by police in a case of “mistaken identity”.

But later reports from the Kenyan media reconstructed the events surrounding the killing, stating that an occupant in Sharif’s car at the time of his killing was believed to have shot at paramilitary General Service Unit (GSU) officers.

The Pakistan government subsequently formed a team that travelled to Kenya to investigate the killing.

DAWN

 

[daytrader]

SC tells govt to register FIR of Arshad Sharif’s killing by today

The Supreme Court on Tuesday, while taking suo notice of the “brutal killing” of journalist Arshad Sharif, directed the government to register a first information report (FIR) by today.

A larger bench, headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Umar Ata Bandial and comprising Justice Ijazul Ahsan, Justice Jamal Mandokhail, Justice Sayyed Mazahar Ali Akbar Naqvi and Justice Mohammad Ali Mazhar, heard the case.

During the hearing, the apex court also directed the authorities concerned to submit the report of the fact-finding committee by today.

“Why has it not been provided to the court as yet?” the CJP asked.

The additional attorney general informed the court that Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah was in Faisalabad when the report was received. “The report will be handed over to the SC once Sanaullah peruses it,” he said.

“Does the interior minister have to make changes to the report?” the CJP asked, adding that the court could summon Sanaullah. It is the government’s job to investigate not the judiciary’s, he said.

“A journalist was killed. It should be revealed who was behind the killing,” the CJP remarked, adding that the fact-finding committee which had travelled to Kenya had been back in Pakistan for some time. “Why has the final report of the government formed commission not been provided to the SC?”

The additional attorney general responded by saying the report would be submitted by tomorrow. However, the CJP told him to submit it today so the hearing could continue tomorrow.

“[We] have been waiting for the report for the past 43 days,” CJP Bandial said, terming Sharif’s medical report to be “unsatisfactory”. “We are taking the matter seriously. That is why a five-judge bench was constituted.”

Justice Ahsan remarked that Sharif was killed in Kenya under “suspicious circumstances”. “What action has the foreign ministry taken?” he asked.

The foreign affairs secretary replied that the premier had contacted the Kenyan president in this regard. “The Pakistani High Commissioner in Kenya is in touch with the relevant authorities,” he said.

Apex court takes suo motu notice
Earlier in the day the CJP had taken suo motu notice of Sharif’s “brutal killing”.

The development came three days after PTI chief Imran Khan penned a letter to CJP Bandial, asking him to conduct an independent judicial inquiry into the killing of Sharif, who was shot dead in Kenya on Oct 24.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had announced last month that a judicial commission would be formed to probe the matter and subsequently wrote a letter to the CJP regarding this.

“The journalist community in the country and the public at large are deeply distressed and are concerned about the death of the senior journalist and are seeking the court’s scrutiny of the matter,” the statement said.

It added that notices had been issued to the interior secretary, foreign affairs secretary, information and broadcasting secretary, the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) director general (DG), the Intelligence Bureau (IB) DG and the president of the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ).

Imran and other PTI leaders have been demanding an investigation into the “targeted killing” of the renowned journalist, claiming that he was forced to leave Pakistan for the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and later the Gulf region as well — where he had stayed for a short time before heading to Kenya.

The Foreign Office has, however, dismissed these claims.

Sharif’s mother had also penned a letter to the CJP on November 2, requesting the formation of a high-powered judicial commission to investigate the murder.

‘Welcome decision’
Politicians welcomed the SC’s decision to take suo motu notice of Sharif’s killing, highlighting the apex court’s role in protecting human rights.

PTI leader Fawad Chaudhry hailed the decision, saying: “The people expect the SC and the judges to stand up for basic human rights despite pressure for the sovereignty of the Constitution, and to protect human rights.”

Awami Muslim League (AML) chief Sheikh Rashid Ahmed also welcomed the development, predicting that several “hidden faces” would be unmasked during the trial.

“The nation is also looking towards the SC regarding the attack on Imran Khan and the Azam Swati case.” He advised the coalition government to prepare for the next general election instead of working on disqualifying the PTI chief.

PM Shehbaz, while speaking at an event organised by Islamabad Journalist Safety Forum moments before the SC’s statement was released, said he had spoken to the Kenyan president regarding Sharif’s killing.

He said Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari had been in contact with the authorities concerned, while he himself had spoken to agencies in Pakistan for speedy action. “I have also written a letter to the CJP to constitute a commission [to probe the case] and I hope action will be taken in this regard.”

The premier also stated that no journalist or human rights defender should be attacked for exercising freedom of expression guaranteed under the Constitution.

The killing
Sharif had left Pakistan in August after a number of cases were registered against him. It was reported that he was initially staying in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) after which he went to Kenya, where he was shot dead.

Initially, Kenyan media had quoted the local police as saying Sharif was shot dead by police in a case of “mistaken identity”.

But later reports from the Kenyan media reconstructed the events surrounding the killing, stating that an occupant in Sharif’s car at the time of his killing was believed to have shot at paramilitary General Service Unit (GSU) officers.

The Pakistan government subsequently formed a team that travelled to Kenya to investigate the killing.

DAWN

 

[MenInG]

The Supreme Court (SC) ordered the interior secretary on Tuesday to register an FIR by tonight of the October 23 brutal killing of senior journalist Arshad Sharif. The directives came after Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Umar Ata Bandial took suo motu notice of the incident.

Earlier today, notices were issued to Foreign Affairs Secretary Asad Majeed, Information and Broadcasting Secretary Shahera Shahid, Federal Investigation Agency Director General (DG) Mohsin Butt, DG Intelligence Bureau, the interior secretary and president of the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) Afzal Butt.

Headed by CJ Bandial, a five-member bench presided over the proceedings today.

During the hearing, Justice Ijaz ul Ahsan asked the interior secretary whether it was true that an FIR had not been registered in either Pakistan or Kenya. The court was then informed that the government was "waiting for the fact-finding committee's report to register an FIR".

 

[Bewal Express]

The Supreme Court (SC) ordered the interior secretary on Tuesday to register an FIR by tonight of the October 23 brutal killing of senior journalist Arshad Sharif. The directives came after Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Umar Ata Bandial took suo motu notice of the incident.

Earlier today, notices were issued to Foreign Affairs Secretary Asad Majeed, Information and Broadcasting Secretary Shahera Shahid, Federal Investigation Agency Director General (DG) Mohsin Butt, DG Intelligence Bureau, the interior secretary and president of the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) Afzal Butt.

Headed by CJ Bandial, a five-member bench presided over the proceedings today.

During the hearing, Justice Ijaz ul Ahsan asked the interior secretary whether it was true that an FIR had not been registered in either Pakistan or Kenya. The court was then informed that the government was "waiting for the fact-finding committee's report to register an FIR".

CJP has woken up after 2 months. This corrupt judge has betrayed a nation by siding with a pathetic General who now is so humiliated that he has to spend the rest of his life in purdah and hiding like the Sharifs in London. There will be no outcome because the people being asked to investigate are the ones that killed him. Brave men like Arshad sacrifice their lives to make countries while those that get paid to do that, steal and plunder.

 

[James]

<b>Pakistani court to oversee probe into death of journalist in Kenya</b>

ISLAMABAD (Reuters) -Pakistan's Supreme Court set up a panel of five judges on Tuesday to supervise an investigation into the death of a prominent journalist who was shot and killed in Kenya, the court said.

Journalist Arshad Sharif, 50, was killed on Oct. 23 while travelling in a vehicle on the outskirts of the Kenyan capital of Nairobi. Kenyan police said it was a case of mistaken identity.

Sharif had earlier fled from Pakistan citing threats to his life after the government registered a treason case against him.

The Supreme Court said it had taken up the case voluntarily and was seeking responses from Pakistan's foreign and interior ministries, the Federal Investigation Agency and Intelligence Bureau.

"The journalist community and the public at large are deeply distressed and concerned about the death of the senior journalist and are seeking the court's scrutiny of the matter," the court said in a statement.

The panel ordered the government to register a fresh case in Pakistan in relation to the killing, and submit by Wednesday the findings of an investigation team that had visited Kenya to gather facts and evidence last month, a court official said.

The registration of a new case means that a new criminal investigation will begin in Pakistan, which could lend weight to Pakistani efforts to learn more about the Kenyan investigation, Pakistani officials say.

The fresh case will also help Pakistani police to investigate any suspects in Pakistan if they think they had anything to do with the killing.

Sharif worked for many years as a prime-time television news show host for ARY News in Pakistan.

Kenyan police said Sharif was shot dead when police hunting car thieves opened fire on the vehicle he was travelling in as it drove through their roadblock late at night without stopping.

Police had formed a roadblock using small stones but the car in which Sharif was a passenger failed to stop, even after officers opened fire, police said in a report. Nine bullets hit the car and one hit Sharif in the head.

Despite the Kenyan police findings, Pakistan's interior minister said there was evidence to suggest it was a targeted killing based on initial findings of a team of Pakistani investigators who visited Kenya last month.

Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah said Sharif's body had bruises and torture marks.

The treason case filed against Sharif stemmed from reporting he did that led to an accusation he had spread a call from an official in a previous government, led by former cricket star Imran Khan, for members of the armed forces to mutiny.

Both Sharif and the official in the previous government denied inciting mutiny.

Former prime minister Khan said Sharif had been murdered for his journalistic work. He and his successor PM Shehbaz Sharif, not related to the journalist Sharif, had called for a judicial investigation.

PM Sharif welcomed the court's move. "The government will extend full support to the court," he said in a statement.

https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/worl...sedgntp&cvid=a367f521a10641568b5041d0e3ba8885

 

[daytrader]

FIR of journalist’s killing registered on SC orders
Islamabad police nominate three key suspects among others in Arshad Sharif’s murder

The Islamabad police on Tuesday registered an FIR of journalist Arshad Sharif’s murder following the Supreme Court’s orders.

Three main suspects --Waqar Ahmed, Khurram Ahmed, and Tariq Ahmed Wasi – as well as others have been nominated in the case registered at the Ramna police station of the federal capital.

The FIR was filed under Sections 302 (punishment for murder) and 34 (acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention) of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC).

The FIR was registered on behalf of a complaint filed by SHO Rashid Ahmed.
It stated that Arshad was killed in Nairobi, Kenya.

It added that his postmortem was conducted at Pakistan Institute Of Medical Sciences (Pims) Hospital on October 26.

According to the postmortem report, the deceased died of gunshot wounds, the FIR read.

It read that the medical board handed over four parcels of evidence to the police after the postmortem was carried out.

The FIR further stated that the full medical report was asked to be given later and the body of the slain journalist had been handed over to his heirs.

The inquiry into the murder was being conducted at a senior level, it added.
The document read that further action would be taken in the light of the postmortem report and analysis of the parcels.

Five parcels have been kept in the police’s malkhana.

Inspector Mian Shahbaz has been assigned to investigate the murder, the FIR stated.

Earlier in the day, the apex court ordered the interior secretary to register the FIR of the “brutal killing” of the journalist by Tuesday night.

The directives came after Chief Justice of Pakistan Umar Ata Bandial took suo motu notice of the murder.

Headed by CJP Bandial, a five-member bench which also comprised Justice Ijazul Ahsan, Justice Jamal Mandokhail, Justice Sayyed Mazahar Ali Akbar Naqvi and Justice Mohammad Ali Mazhar, heard the case.

The SC directed the authorities concerned to submit a copy of the FIR to the court by Wednesday (today).

The court also sought the inquiry report of the committee formed by the government to probe the murder and adjourned the hearing till Wednesday.

Notices were issued to Foreign Affairs Secretary Asad Majeed, Information and Broadcasting Secretary Shahera Shahid, Federal Investigation Agency Director General Mohsin Butt, Intelligence Bureau director general, the interior secretary and president of the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ), Afzal Butt.

During the hearing, Justice Ijazul Ahsan asked the interior secretary whether or not it was true that an FIR had not been registered in either Pakistan or Kenya.
The court was then informed that the government was waiting for the fact-finding committee’s report to register an FIR.

CJP Bandial observed that it had been a while since the fact-finding committee returned from Kenya and inquired why the report had not yet been received by the SC.

Additional Attorney General (AAG) Chaudhary Amir Rehman explained to the court that Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah had been in Faisalabad during the weekend whereas the report was received on Friday evening.

He told the bench that the report would be submitted to the court after the minister read it.

The CJP asked him that did the interior minister wanted to alter the report, calling for Sanaullah to appear before the court “right now”.

“There is an ongoing debate on social media. Fingers are being pointed at so many,” the judge added.

However, the AAG said that the prime minister and law minister were also yet to see the report.

The CJP responded that everyone had the right to access the investigation report.

“The investigation is the government’s responsibility, not that of the court,” he noted.

The judge observed that a journalist had been murdered and those who killed him should be brought to light.

The AAG’s assured the court that of the committee’s report would be submitted to the court on Wednesday.

However, the court ordered that it must be submitted to the SC on Tuesday so that the matter could be heard on Wednesday.

“We have been waiting for 43 days for the report,” CJP Bandial noted, adding that so far, only Arshad’s medical report had been provided to the SC.

The judge observed that the SC had even considered the medical report “unsatisfactory” and the court was “taking the issue very seriously”.

“A five-member bench has been constituted keeping in view the gravity of the situation,” the CJP remarked.

“Mistreatment of journalists will not be tolerated under any circumstances,” the judge noted.

He added that if journalists contributed to false reporting, then the government should “introduce laws to punish them”.

Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar inquired if an investigation was taking place in Kenya.

Admitting the “suspicious circumstances” under which the journalist was murdered, Justice Ahsan also inquired what action had the foreign ministry taken so far on the matter.

The foreign secretary informed the court that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had spoken to the Kenyan president and that the Pakistani high commissioner in that country was in touch with the relevant authorities. However, he added that the progress made in the investigation was not yet known.

Separately, PN Shehbaz welcomed the apex court’s decision to take suo motu notice of the journalist’s murder.

Assuring the SC of the government’s “full cooperation” in the matter, the premier stressed in a tweet that the court’s decision was in line with an earlier request he had made to it.

In a letter written to the top judge, the PM had asked the CJP to form a commission comprising all available judges of the apex court to ascertain the facts surrounding the mysterious murder of the journalist, who was shot dead in Kenya last month.

Express Tribune