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Anti-establishment journalist Arshad Sharif shot dead in Kenya

Arshad Sharif's murder 'planned assassination', says fact-finding team
Team claims transnational actors involved in 'targetted' murder, inconclusive if Sharif tortured

The fact-finding team probing the murder of Arshad Sharif has concluded that his killing was a case of planned and targeted assassination by transnational characters and not a case of mistaken identity, as the Kenyan police earlier claimed.

According to the team’s report, the “transnational roles” of individuals from Kenya, Dubai, and Pakistan cannot be ruled out in the case.

“The four GSU (General Service Unit) police officials and OC GSU Training camp had been used as instruments in this case under influence, either financial or some other compulsion,” it stated.

The report stated that Waqar – who sponsored and hosted the journalist – was connected to Kenya's National Intelligence Service (NIS) and other international agencies and law enforcement.

It furthered that the fact that Waqar handed over Sharif’s personal cell phone and iPad to a NIS officer, rather than to the police, 'established' his link with the NIS.

“His linkage with national and international agencies provides a scope of possibilities of transnational characters in this case”.

The report also said that the narrations presented by Khurram, who drove the vehicle prior to Sharif’s murder, regarding the sequence of events and the crime scene, were contrary to logic and facts, and that there were no penetration marks of a bullet on Sharif's car seat.

Rather, the journalist was hit from the back and the bullet exited from the right side of his chest. The report maintained that Khurram’s narrative did not match “his [Sharif’s] sitting position, the position of the gunners as well as the line of fire”.

The report also declared that the Kenyan police’s claims of portraying the incident as a case of “mistaken identity” was also full of contradictions and that the statements given by the GSU police officials contradict themselves.

“Their version of events is not believable”.

It furthered that the post-mortem report in Pakistan identified that four fingernails of the slain journalist's left hand were missing, giving rise to speculation that Sharif had been tortured before his death.

However, it continued, that while the Kenyan post-mortem did mention "fingernails" taken as DNA samples, it did not mention how many fingernails were taken.

“Keeping in view the apparent differences in the two post-mortem reports, there is no concrete evidence to establish that Arshad Sharif was tortured before the killing,” the report said.

Moreover, it stated that there were "compelling reasons for Sharif to leave Pakistan because of
criminal cases registered against him in different districts” and that he was made to leave the UAE by Emirati authorities.

The report highlighted that international criminal law presents five principles that invoke the criminal jurisdiction of any country. These principles include territorial principle, nationality
principles, passive personality principle, protection principle, and universal principle.

With the aforementioned facts in view, the fact-finding team recommended that a case be registered under the relevant provisions of the Pakistan Penal Code and Anti-Terrorism Act at the Counter Terrorism Wing (CTW) of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) on the basis of Section 4 of PPC. This section discusses the principle of nationality in international criminal jurisdiction.

The team comprised two senior officials and was created by the incumbent federal government.

Express Tribune
 
Killing of Pakistani journalist in Kenya ‘planned assassination’, report claims

Their report has been released weeks after the mysterious killing of Mr Sharif triggered widespread condemnation and calls for an independent probe.

Meanwhile, police in Islamabad have charged two Pakistani businessmen living in Kenya who had hosted Mr Sharif in connection with his killing.

The report offered no evidence for its claims and there was no immediate comment from Kenyan officials.

Mr Sharif, 50, was hiding in Kenya to avoid arrest at home on charges of maligning Pakistan’s national institutions – a phrase which is used for critics of the powerful military, which has ruled Pakistan for half of its 75-year history.

He was killed on October 23, when the car he was in sped up and drove through a checkpoint outside the Kenyan capital Nairobi, and police opened fire.

Nairobi police later expressed regret over the incident, saying it was a case of “mistaken identity” during a search for a similar car involved in a child abduction case.

News of the killing shook Pakistan and, days later, thousands of people came out for Mr Sharif’s funeral as the nation mourned.

The international media watchdog Reporters Without Borders demanded an independent probe. Pakistan’s prime minister announced an investigation and promised the government’s findings would be shared with the public.

The military and Pakistani journalists also demanded a probe, as did Mr Sharif’s widow, Javeria Siddique, his mother Riffat Ara Alvi, and other family members.

The investigators’ 592-page report, seen by The Associated Press, said the Kenyan police issued contradictory statements following the killing.

As part of the probe, two Pakistani officials had travelled to Kenya where they met with police and Mr Sharif’s hosts, brothers Kuram and Waqar Ahmed.

According to the report, Kuram told the investigators that he was in the car with Mr Sharif at the time of the shooting, travelling home after dinner.

They saw the roadblock, which Kuram believed to have been set up by robbers. As they sped through without stopping, he heard the fatal gunshots, he said.

Kuram said he then called his brother who advised that he keep driving until they reached the family’s farmhouse, several miles away.

Once at the house, the brothers found Mr Sharif was already dead, Kuram was quoted as saying.

The report shed no light as to whether it found Kuram’s account suspicious.

It only said the Kenyan police were apparently “used as instruments” in the killing, possibly with financial or other compensation – again, without elaborating or offering evidence to support the accusation.

“This was a planned, targeted assassination … rather than a case of mistaken identity” as the Kenyan police claimed, the report said.

It refrained from blaming anyone specifically, saying only that individuals in Kenya, Dubai or Pakistan may have had a role in the death.

Mr Sharif had stayed in the United Arab Emirates after leaving Pakistan in August and before travelling on to Kenya.

The report further suggested that the bullet that fatally wounded Mr Sharif was fired from either inside the car or from close range.

MSN
 
ex-q-zit said:
Killing of Pakistani journalist in Kenya ‘planned assassination’, report claims

Their report has been released weeks after the mysterious killing of Mr Sharif triggered widespread condemnation and calls for an independent probe.

Meanwhile, police in Islamabad have charged two Pakistani businessmen living in Kenya who had hosted Mr Sharif in connection with his killing.

The report offered no evidence for its claims and there was no immediate comment from Kenyan officials.

Mr Sharif, 50, was hiding in Kenya to avoid arrest at home on charges of maligning Pakistan’s national institutions – a phrase which is used for critics of the powerful military, which has ruled Pakistan for half of its 75-year history.

He was killed on October 23, when the car he was in sped up and drove through a checkpoint outside the Kenyan capital Nairobi, and police opened fire.

Nairobi police later expressed regret over the incident, saying it was a case of “mistaken identity” during a search for a similar car involved in a child abduction case.

News of the killing shook Pakistan and, days later, thousands of people came out for Mr Sharif’s funeral as the nation mourned.

The international media watchdog Reporters Without Borders demanded an independent probe. Pakistan’s prime minister announced an investigation and promised the government’s findings would be shared with the public.

The military and Pakistani journalists also demanded a probe, as did Mr Sharif’s widow, Javeria Siddique, his mother Riffat Ara Alvi, and other family members.

The investigators’ 592-page report, seen by The Associated Press, said the Kenyan police issued contradictory statements following the killing.

As part of the probe, two Pakistani officials had travelled to Kenya where they met with police and Mr Sharif’s hosts, brothers Kuram and Waqar Ahmed.

According to the report, Kuram told the investigators that he was in the car with Mr Sharif at the time of the shooting, travelling home after dinner.

They saw the roadblock, which Kuram believed to have been set up by robbers. As they sped through without stopping, he heard the fatal gunshots, he said.

Kuram said he then called his brother who advised that he keep driving until they reached the family’s farmhouse, several miles away.

Once at the house, the brothers found Mr Sharif was already dead, Kuram was quoted as saying.

The report shed no light as to whether it found Kuram’s account suspicious.

It only said the Kenyan police were apparently “used as instruments” in the killing, possibly with financial or other compensation – again, without elaborating or offering evidence to support the accusation.

“This was a planned, targeted assassination … rather than a case of mistaken identity” as the Kenyan police claimed, the report said.

It refrained from blaming anyone specifically, saying only that individuals in Kenya, Dubai or Pakistan may have had a role in the death.

Mr Sharif had stayed in the United Arab Emirates after leaving Pakistan in August and before travelling on to Kenya.

The report further suggested that the bullet that fatally wounded Mr Sharif was fired from either inside the car or from close range.

MSN
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Arshad Sharifs widowed mother named all the criminal ISI Generals and Brigadiers that threatened him in PK and had FIRs registered against him. The CJP is a stooge and doesn't have the courage to call account these criminals that murdered a patriot. Bajwa thought he was untouchable but the beghairat will spend the rest of his life in Purdah and the same will happen to his minions.
 
New JIT formed to probe Arshad Sharif's murder, govt informs SC
Court 'wants an honest and impartial investigation', instructs JIT to submit progress report before next hearing

The federal government on Thursday informed the Supreme Court that a new joint investigation team (JIT) has been formed to probe the murder of senior journalist Arshad Sharif in Kenya.

The special JIT is led by DIG Headquarter Islamabad Police Awais Ahmed and has four other members - namely Muhammad Aslam from the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), Murtaza Afzal from the Military Intelligence (MI), Federal Investigation Agency's (FIA) Waqaruddin Syed, and Sajid Kayani of the Intelligence Bureau (IB).

The five-member bench, led by Chief Justice of Pakistan Umar Ata Bandial, also instructed the new investigation team to submit a progress report before the next date of the hearing.

Justice Bandial said that the apex court "wants an honest and impartial investigation" and expressed hope that progress will be made in different areas of the investigation.

The bench added that in case the JIT faces any administrative difficulty, it mat approach the office of the CJP for resolution.

The Foreign Office (FO)0 secretary also submitted a report in which he detailed different means through which the investigation team can be facilitated by the ministry.

"The government will fully fund the JIT," said Additional Attorney General Chaudhary Amir Rehman.

Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar, however, pointed out that no timeline is being given to the JIT for the completion of the task.

The apex court then adjourned the hearing till the first week of January.

MoFA's reply to SC

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA), in a reply submitted to the apex court during the case's hearing, stated that it is considering bringing the primary accused in the Arshad Sharif murder case back to Pakistan.

The apex court had taken suo motu notice of the case and directed the MoFA to submit its response.

The response maintained that the ministry was in constant contact with Pakistani envoys in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Kenya to facilitate the investigation and obtain evidence by the authorities.

The ministry furthered that the prime minister of Pakistan had contacted the Kenyan president by telephone and requested assistance in the investigation, adding that contact with Kenyan authorities would soon yield “positive results”.

The Kenyan High Commission would soon share the final results of the investigation with Pakistan, said the ministry in its reply.

The apex court was informed that the Foreign Office (FO) was also reviewing procedures to seek assistance from international agencies to further the investigation.

The response highlighted that the FO was committed to maintaining friendly relations with Kenya and the UAE and was considering sending a special delegation to raise the matter with the Kenyan authorities.

In the reply submitted to the SC, MoFA further stated that it was also considering establishing telephonic contact between the foreign ministers of Pakistan and Kenya and added that instructions were being issued to the Pakistan High Commission in Kenya to speed up the investigation of the case.

The response maintained that a request was sent to the interior ministry for the collection of evidence and legal assistance from the UAE.

FO stated that it was focusing on other legal options to bring the evidence and investigation to a logical conclusion.

"The Foreign Office will cooperate with the Special JIT as much as possible,” the statement said.

Earlier this week, Chief Justice Bandial took suo motu notice of the murder. Headed by the CJP, a five-member bench comprising Justice Ijazul Ahsan, Justice Jamal Mandokhail, Justice Sayyed Mazahar Ali Akbar Naqvi and Justice Mohammad Ali Mazhar, is hearing the case.

Express Tribune
 
JIT TO RECORD STATEMENTS OF MARTYR JOURNALIST’S MOTHER, WIDOW

The special Joint Investigation Team (JIT) has decided to record the statements of martyr journalist Arshad Sharif’s mother and widow in connection with a probe into the murder case, ARY News reported on Friday.

The special JIT formed by the federal government held its first meeting at the Deputy Inspector General (DIG) headquarters on Friday. It has been decided that the special JIT will devise its own terms of reference (ToRs) for carrying out the probe into the Arshad Sharif murder case.

It was learnt that the JIT will record the testimonies of Sharif’s mother and widow first, whereas, all relevant persons will be contacted to record their statements.

The JIT spokesperson said in a statement that preparations have been started to complete travel documents to depart for Kenya.

On December 8, the federal government shared the names of the members of a new special joint investigation team (JIT) formed to probe the murder of senior journalist Arshad Sharif with the Supreme Court (SC).

SC seeks JIT members’ names
On Wednesday, the Supreme Court (SC) had sought names of Joint Investigation Team (JIT) members, formed by the federal government to probe the murder of senior journalist Arshad Sharif.

Additional Attorney General, Aamir Rehman presented notification of the five-member JIT before the five-member larger bench of the Supreme Court hearing suo moto notice of Arshad Sharif’s murder.

The new JIT includes members from ISI, IB, FIA and the Islamabad police. The members include DIG Intelligence Branch, Sajid Kiyani, FIA’s Waqarauddin Syed, DIG Headquarters, Owais Ahmed, Murtaza Afzal from the Military Intelligence and Muhammad Aslam from the ISI.

CJP Umar Ata Bandial while ordering an immediate probe into the Arshad Sharif murder case, remarked that FO in its response has given good suggestions.

The JIT will enjoy special powers and the government will provide funds to the JIT if its members want to go to Kenya for the probe.

On the query of Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar, the AAGP replied that JIT will do its best to conclude the probe as soon as possible.

The SC while summoning the progress reports of the committee after every two weeks, adjourned the hearing of the Arshad Sharif murder case till the first week of January.

ARY
 
The Supreme Court has fixed suo motu case of prominent journalist Arshad Sharif’s assassination for hearing on Thursday.

A five-member larger bench led by Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Justice Umar Ata Bandial will conduct the hearing on the case at 1pm on January 5, Express News reported on Monday.

Justice Ijazul Ahsan, Justice Mazahar Ali Akbar, Justice Jamal Khan Mandukhel and Justice Muhammad Ali Mazahar are also part of the bench.

Express Tribune
 
MenInG said:
The Supreme Court has fixed suo motu case of prominent journalist Arshad Sharif’s assassination for hearing on Thursday.

A five-member larger bench led by Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Justice Umar Ata Bandial will conduct the hearing on the case at 1pm on January 5, Express News reported on Monday.

Justice Ijazul Ahsan, Justice Mazahar Ali Akbar, Justice Jamal Khan Mandukhel and Justice Muhammad Ali Mazahar are also part of the bench.

Express Tribune
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Bajwa has said in interviews that he controls the SC. I suppose we know that after the SC refused to give a verdict on the Presidential reference in March about whether the lotay could vote. The SC is corrupt
 
Bewal Express said:
Bajwa has said in interviews that he controls the SC. I suppose we know that after the SC refused to give a verdict on the Presidential reference in March about whether the lotay could vote. The SC is corrupt
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Really? If true, this is a textbook example of a banana republic.
 
Browncaps said:
Really? If true, this is a textbook example of a banana republic.
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He said in an interview that he saved IK in the SC case( what IK needed to be saved from is not clear). He claimed that he told ex CJP Nisar to clear IK. Quite simply the SC has to charge him with contempt for lying, or both CJP Nisar and Bajwa with the crime of defeating the ends to justice. Bajwa has inadvertently admitted a crime.
 
ARSHAD SHARIF CASE: JIT AWAITS RELEASE OF FUNDS

The members of the Joint Investigation Team (JIT) formed to probe murder of late senior journalist Arshad Sharif are waiting for the release of funds from the federal government, ARY News reported, citing sources.

Senior journalist and former ARY News anchor was killed in Kenyan capital Nairobi on October 23 where he was living in self-exile.

The Special JIT sought funds for visiting Kenya and Dubai for the investigation on the orders of the Supreme Court. Funds of Rs10 million were sought from the Interior Ministry for the travel, and residence expenses of the five members of the JIT.

Pakistani Embassy in Kenya has also did not reply to the JIT, willing to probe in Nairobi, the sources say. It has been learnt by ARY News that funds have not been issued by the government due to ban on the foreign tours.

The matter of the release of funds will be forwarded to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif after approval from the finance ministry, the sources said.

On December 8, the federal government shared the names of the members of a new special joint investigation team (JIT) formed to probe the murder of senior journalist Arshad Sharif with the Supreme Court (SC).

ARY
 
The joint investigation team (JIT) on the martyr journalist Arshad Sharif murder case will depart for Kenya on January 15, the investigators apprised the Supreme Court (SC) conducting a suo motu hearing, ARY News reported on Wednesday.
 
The Supreme Court’s Registrar Office has returned the joint investigation team’s (JIT) report on journalist Arshad Sharif murder case raising objections.

According to sources, the apex court's Registrar’s Office refused to take the report from the investigation team, observing that some pages in it were not readable.

It noted that the report of the postmortem conducted on the slain journalist could not be read clearly, especially the one carried out in Kenya.

The team submitted an affidavit to the court that read: “[The] Joint Investigation Committee is going to Kenya on January 15, 2023, therefore, [a] Legible Copy of [the] Postmortem report will be brought from there, till then [the] available copy of [the] Postmortem Report may kindly be entertained with [the] Interim Report.”

The apex court will conduct a hearing on Thursday (today) on its suo motu notice of the journalist’s murder in Kenya.
 
ARSHAD SHARIF MURDER: JIT MEMBERS RETURN PAKISTAN AFTER INQUIRY IN KENYA, UAE

The special Joint Investigation Team (JIT) formed to probe the murder of senior journalist Arshad Sharif on Thursday has returned to Pakistan after completing its inquiry in Kenya and UAE, ARY News reported.

Senior journalist and former ARY News anchor was killed in the Kenyan capital Nairobi on October 23 where he was living in self-exile.

On December 8, the federal government formed a new special joint investigation team (JIT) formed to probe the murder of senior journalist Arshad Sharif with the Supreme Court (SC).

The new JIT includes members from ISI, IB, FIA and the Islamabad police. The members include DIG Intelligence Branch, Sajid Kiyani, FIA’s Waqarauddin Syed, DIG Headquarters, Owais Ahmed, Murtaza Afzal from the Military Intelligence and Muhammad Aslam from the ISI.

The five-member JIT members were in Kenya and UAE to probe the murder of a senior journalist Arshad Sharif in Kenya. The members collected the details about the contacts made by the senior journalist during his last days.

The committee is expected to submit its report to the Supreme Court next week.

ARY
 
daytrader said:
ARSHAD SHARIF MURDER: JIT MEMBERS RETURN PAKISTAN AFTER INQUIRY IN KENYA, UAE

The special Joint Investigation Team (JIT) formed to probe the murder of senior journalist Arshad Sharif on Thursday has returned to Pakistan after completing its inquiry in Kenya and UAE, ARY News reported.

Senior journalist and former ARY News anchor was killed in the Kenyan capital Nairobi on October 23 where he was living in self-exile.

On December 8, the federal government formed a new special joint investigation team (JIT) formed to probe the murder of senior journalist Arshad Sharif with the Supreme Court (SC).

The new JIT includes members from ISI, IB, FIA and the Islamabad police. The members include DIG Intelligence Branch, Sajid Kiyani, FIA’s Waqarauddin Syed, DIG Headquarters, Owais Ahmed, Murtaza Afzal from the Military Intelligence and Muhammad Aslam from the ISI.

The five-member JIT members were in Kenya and UAE to probe the murder of a senior journalist Arshad Sharif in Kenya. The members collected the details about the contacts made by the senior journalist during his last days.

The committee is expected to submit its report to the Supreme Court next week.

ARY
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Not expecting much. The SC is part and parcel of regime and the Bandial hasn't woken up. Maybe they have videos of him and are blackmailing him. Look at the failure to hear the Presidential reference in time
 
SC takes up Arshad Sharif suo motu case today
The special JIT, formed to probe the murder, will submit its report to the SC today, reports media

A five-member bench of the Supreme Court of Pakistan, headed by Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial, will hear the suo moto notice case on Monday (today) about the murder of senior journalist and anchorperson Arshad Sharif in Kenya.

The hearing of the case will be conducted at 1 pm. The chief justice of Pakistan had taken suo moto with regard to an independent and transparent investigation into the murder of Arshad Sharif.

The other members of the bench are Justice Ijazul Ahsen, Justice Sayed Mazahar Ali Akbar Naqvi, Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhel and Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar.

The court has issued notices to the interior secretary, DG FIA, attorney general for Pakistan, secretary Ministry of Foreign Affairs, President PFUJ, DG IB, Secretary of Ministry of Information and Broadcasting Sheikh Mahmood Ahmad, AOR Adil Aziz Qazi, ASC Muhammad Saad Umar Butter, ASC Chaudhry Akhtar Ali, AOR Shazib Masud, advocate Supreme Court, and Inspector General of Police, Islamabad, on the hearing of the case.

According to media reports, the special Joint Investigation Team (JIT), formed to probe the murder of Arshad Sharif, will submit its report to the SC on Monday (today). The team returned to Pakistan last week after completing its inquiry in Kenya and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

The senior journalist was killed in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi, on October 23, where he was living in self-exile.

On Dec 8, the federal government formed a new special joint investigation team (JIT) to probe the murder of Arshad Sharif on the orders of the Supreme Court (SC). The new JIT includes members from the ISI, IB, FIA and the Islamabad Police. The members include DIG Intelligence Branch Sajid Kiyani, FIA’s Waqarauddin Syed, DIG Headquarters, Owais Ahmed, Murtaza Afzal from the Military Intelligence and Muhammad Aslam from the ISI.

...
https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/1040185-sc-takes-up-arshad-sharif-suo-motu-case-today
 
SC Judge Ijazul Ahsan says that the Pakistan government should involve the UN in its inquiry into the death of journalist Arshad Sharif after a government lawyer told the Supreme Court that investigators from Pakistan were not allowed to meet anyone while in Kenya
 
Shameful is the only word that can explain today's session in Supreme Court on Arshad Sharif matter. There has not been an iota of positive development in the case since last hearing almost 1.5 months back. Absolutely disgraceful from JIT to not even investigate simplest of matters in here.

One of the question from judges was on the FIRs registered against Arshad to which JIT says they are still investigating this matter. Disgraceful.
 
The Supreme Court was informed on Monday that Kenyan authorities were not granting access to the team investigating the murder of journalist Arshad Sharif, who was shot dead last year.

The remarks came as the apex court resumed hearing the suo motu notice of the murder. A five-member bench, comprising Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Umar Ata Bandial, Justice Ijazul Ahsan, Justice Jamal Mandokhel, Justice Syed Mazahar Ali Akbar Naqvi and Justice Mohammad Ali Mazhar, heard the case.
 
MenInG said:
SC Judge Ijazul Ahsan says that the Pakistan government should involve the UN in its inquiry into the death of journalist Arshad Sharif after a government lawyer told the Supreme Court that investigators from Pakistan were not allowed to meet anyone while in Kenya
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The JIT is being run by the people that murdered him. The Ganja Shaitan and the crooked Generals murdered him and are still part of the fake Hafizs team
 
Sadly his family won't get justice.

The case and investigation will be buried in red tape and bureaucracy.
 
ARSHAD SHARIF CASE: SUPREME COURT REJECTS JIT REPORT

The Supreme Court (SC) on Monday rejected the report of the Special Joint Investigation Team (JIT) formed to probe the murder of senior journalist Arshad Sharif, ARY News reported.

The JIT report was submitted to the CJP’s Chamber earlier in the day. The report contains details of the investigation carried out in Kenya and the UAE.

The team returned to Pakistan, last week after completing its inquiry in Kenya and the United Arab Emirates.

Hearing the case, a five-member bench headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan, Justice Umar Ata Bandial rejected the report submitted by the special JIT and termed it as a story of ‘failures’ only.

During today’s hearing, CJP asked why Kenya stopped ‘cooperating’ with Pakistan in the Arshad Sharif murder case. “Foreign Office should investigate the matter and brief the state on the matter,” CJP Bandial remarked.

CJP Justice Umar Ata Bandial said there are two important aspects in the Arshad Sharif murder case one is domestic and the other is foreign. The top judge also asked the JIT head and the additional attorney general to find out who leaked the fact-finding report of the case.

The JIT head informed the SC bench, the Kenyan authorities have not handed over Arshad Sharif’s iPhone and iPad to them and went on to say the JIT did not find any evidence to reach any conclusion in the case.

...
https://arynews.tv/arshad-sharif-case-jit-submits-sealed-report-in-sc/
 
The top court has asked the special joint investigation team (JIT), formed by the government on the order of the SC to investigate the murder of journalist Arshad Sharif in Kenya, about what had motivated the anchorperson to leave Pakistan.

“In this respect, the special JIT may investigate the multiple FIRs lodged against the deceased journalist and any sensitive information that may have been in his possession,” read a three-page order issued by a five-judge larger bench of the apex court, led by Chief Justice of Pakistan Umar Ata Bandial while hearing the suo motu case about Arshad's killing.

The court asked the special JIT to investigate why the Dubai government had ordered Arshad to leave the country.

The bench also directed the team to find out who had released the two-member committee’s fact-finding report and what was the reason behind the move.

The order noted that in response to the court’s suggestion that the UN might be involved in the investigation to ensure the cooperation of the Kenyan government, the additional attorney general submitted to the court that the proper diplomatic channel had been invoked under the Mutual Legal Assistance Act, 2011 for this purpose.
 
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif spoke to Kenyan President Dr William Ruto in a telephonic conversation on Monday. The two leaders discussed the issue of the murder of renowned Pakistani journalist, late Arshad Sharif in Kenya.
 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-partner="tweetdeck"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Today would have been Arshad Sharif's 50th birthday. We will always remember his supreme sacrifice for Pakistan. It is imperative that those responsible for his assassination must be brought to justice & punished.</p>— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ImranKhanPTI/status/1628314624184524804?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 22, 2023</a></blockquote>
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Arshad Sharif murder case delisted
SC bench was scheduled to hear the case today at 11am

The Supreme Court was supposed to hear the suo motu case of journalist Arshad Sharif’s murder at 11am on Friday (today), but it was delisted by the Registrar’s Office.

A five-judge larger bench of the apex court, headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan Umar Ata Bandial, was scheduled to hear the case.

The Registrar’s Office had even issued notices to the members of the joint investigation team (JIT) and other parties involved in the case.

However, the Registrar’s Office delisted the case, citing unavailability of the bench members

Express Tribune
 
SC hints at forming JC in Arshad’s killing case
Says it wants transparent investigation into the matter

The Supreme Court has indicated it could form a judicial commission in slain journalist Arshad Sharif’s suo motu case.

The apex court has issued the written order of the last hearing held on March 17.

It said that it had received more than 5,000 letters, requesting the court to investigate the journalist’s murder and that it wanted transparent probe into the matter.

Arshad had left Pakistan in August last year after a number of cases were registered against him.

It was reported that he was initially staying in the UAE but later went to Kenya, where he was shot dead.

The government had subsequently constituted a team that travelled to Kenya to investigate the murder.

In the written order, the top court stated that if it was not satisfied with the investigation, a judicial commission would be constituted.

...
https://tribune.com.pk/story/2410229/sc-hints-at-forming-jc-in-arshads-killing-case
 
Kenya refuses to help Pakistan in Arshad Sharif murder case
Kenyan government says it has done enough and will not allow any more investigation, sources in both Pakistan and Kenya have confirmed

The Kenyan government authorities have told Pakistan point-blank they will not cooperate anymore with the Pakistan investigators in the Arshad Sharif murder investigation.

Pakistani authorities have written to Kenya’s Foreign Office requesting it they be allowed to do a fresh investigation in Kenya, but the Kenyan government has made it clear on more than five occasions that the African country has done enough and will not allow any more investigation inside the country, sources in both Pakistan and Kenya have confirmed.

The Kenyan authorities, said the sources, told Pakistani authorities it provided every possible help to two Pakistani investigators – the Intelligence Bureau’s Omar Shahid Hamid and the Federal Investigation Agency’s Dr Athar Waheed – and that it was not ready to do the same all over again. “No new investigation will yield any different result. We helped Pakistan as much as we can and that’s that,” said a Kenya government source.

The Kenyan government source shared that government, police and intelligence services are “very upset” about the conclusion drawn in the scathing report by Omar Shahid Hamid and Dr Waheed i.e. that there was a strong case of a murder conspiracy leading up to Arshad Sharif’s assassination; the Kenyan police’s potential complicity, non-professionalism and changing statements; a clear case of murder plot cover up; and a lack of will of the Kenyan authorities to investigate the murder case properly.

Three weeks ago, Geo and The News revealed exclusively that an investigation by the Kenyan government authorities maintains that Pakistani journalist Arshad Sharif’s killing was a case of “mistaken identity” and there was no murder planning involved. The Kenyan government report, which remains unpublished till now, says that Arshad Sharif was killed by four members of the para-military General Service Unit (GSU) in a random shootout because his driver Khurram Ahmed didn’t stop at the roadblock and that there was no murder planning.

Since then, Pakistanis have approached the Kenyan government to share this report with Pakistan authorities, but the Kenyan government has refused. A five-member bench, headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan Umar Ata Bandial, and comprising Justice Ijazul Ehsan, Justice Muneeb Akhtar, Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhail and Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar, heard the suo motu notice and ordered a new inquiry.

...
https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/1062281-kenya-refuses-to-help-pakistan-in-arshad-sharif-murder-case
 
Cops involved in Arshad Sharif’s killing back at jobs without any accountability.

Security source says 5 cops involved in fatal shootout are back to work and two of them have been promoted to senior ranks.

LONDON/NAIROBI: The five Kenyan police officers, who were involved in the killing of Pakistani journalist Arshad Sharif, have quietly resumed their official duties without any action being taken against them, according to an investigation by The News and Geo.

Nine months after the killing of Arshad Sharif at a roadblock in a remote part of the East African country, the five police officers involved in the brutal killing are enjoying full police perks and their suspensions have turned out to be only a whitewash by the Kenyan authorities.

A trusted security source said the five cops involved in the fatal shootout are back to work and two of them have been promoted to senior ranks.

Kenya’s Independent Policing and Oversight Authority (IPOA), the body that is tasked with investigating the conduct of police officers, despite making a promise to give an update on Arshad Sharif’s murder within weeks, has not made its findings public in over nine months.

“We shall give an update on the matter once we are done with the investigations,” the IPOA said in a statement when asked about the matter by these reporters. IPOA spokesman refused to give a timescale and didn’t respond to the question why the watchdog has taken so long and why the police officers are back at their jobs without any accountability.

It is worth noting that IPOA had already handed over its file to the office of the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) but it was returned and they were asked to fill some gaps before the prosecution process kicks off.

Investigations into the murder of Arshad Sharif seem to have gone silent in the East African country, according to our probe.

It has been established that Kevin Kimuyu Mutuku, a police officer attached to the General Service Unit (GSU) who was allegedly shot at the scene of crime where Arshsf Sharif was killed, went back to work immediately after he was released from hospital. He had claimed that he suffered a gunshot when bullets were fired from inside Arshad Sharif’s vehicle but the forensic investigation showed he was lying.

www.thenews.com.pk

Cops involved in Arshad Sharif’s killing back at jobs without any accountability

LONDON/NAIROBI: The five Kenyan police officers, who were involved in the killing of Pakistani journalist Arshad Sharif, have quietly resumed their official duties without any action being taken...
www.thenews.com.pk www.thenews.com.pk
 
Arshad Sharif murder: Kenyan journalist raises concerns over delay in probe findings.

Kenyan investigative journalist Brian Obuya has raised concerned over the delay in the probe findings into the senior journalist Arshad Sharif murder case, ARY News reported on Sunday.

Brian Obuya said that the investigators have spent a very long time completing the probe into the Arshad Sharif murder case.

He criticised that neither any report was issued after the probe into the journalist’s assassination case nor the names of the accused Kenyan policemen were disclosed.

‘I haven’t received any information from Kenyan authorities so far about the suspension of the accused cops. The Kenyan authorities kept complete secrecy on the names of the five accused cops,” said Obuya.

The journalist said the five cops involved in the fatal shootout are back to work and two of them have been promoted to senior ranks.

Kenya’s Independent Policing and Oversight Authority (IPOA), the body that is tasked with investigating the conduct of police officers, despite making a promise to give an update on Arshad Sharif’s murder within weeks, has not made its findings public in over nine months.

“We shall give an update on the matter once we are done with the investigations,” the IPOA said in a statement when asked about the matter.


arynews.tv

Arshad Sharif murder: Kenyan journalist raises concerns over delay in probe findings

Kenyan investigative journalist Brian Obuya has raised concerned over the delay in the probe findings into the senior journalist Arshad Sharif murder
arynews.tv arynews.tv
 
This was an accidental murder on the hands of Kenyan Police. And it blew out of proportion after that, as Pakistanis think there was some huge conspiracy behind it.

Anyways, the least the Pakistani govt could had done was make the Kenyans accountable for their actions.
 
Major said:
This was an accidental murder on the hands of Kenyan Police. And it blew out of proportion after that, as Pakistanis think there was some huge conspiracy behind it.

Anyways, the least the Pakistani govt could had done was make the Kenyans accountable for their actions.
Click to expand...
How can you speak of conspiracy when you see what is going on in the country?

It's been a long time now but I continue to wait for you to grow some brain cells... it's either that or you're as corrupt as the politicians you support.
 
An Islamabad district and sessions court issued non-bailable arrest warrants for slain journalist Arshad Sharif’s widow, Summaiya Arshad, and the producer of his programme on ARY News, Ali Usman.

The warrants were issued over non-compliance with court summons and the witnesses’ repeated failure to appear before the court to record their testimonies in the murder case of Sharif, who was shot dead in Kenya in October last year.

However, Summaiyya — Arshad’s first wife — claimed while speaking to ARY News that the court had not issued a summon to her.

She further said she had no knowledge of the arrest warrant before the media reported the news.

“I am finding out from the media and no one told me that non-bailable arrest warrants were issued against me,” she said.

Summaiya added that the FIR of her husband’s murder was registered on the state’s complaint and not the one filed by his family.

“So I don’t know about this case or its details. I only [know] of the Supreme Court’s suo motu notice case on Arshad’s murder and I was present and available on all of its dates,” she said.

Sharif’s second wife, Javeria Siddique, also denied receiving any summons from the sessions court.

“This is victimisation as I never received any summons but I have seen on social media my house address is mentioned in it. This is harassment and another attempt to silence the family of slain journalist Arshad Sharif,” she posted on social media platform X.

ARY News director Ammad Yousaf also said the case was “based on an FIR (first information report) rejected by the family since day one”.

“The family has no idea about this trial happening. They never received any summons by the police or court nor do they want to appear to give credibility to this bogus trial,” he said.

DAWN
 
An Islamabad district and sessions court stopped proceedings in the case of journalist Arshad Sharif’s killing due to a “lack of interest” from the prosecution, it emerged today.

On September 9, a civil judge-cum-judicial magistrate had issued non-bailable arrest warrants against the spouse of the slain journalist — who was shot dead in Kenya in October last year — the producer of a private television channel, and other witnesses for repeatedly failing to appear before the court to record their statements in the case.

Reportedly, Judicial Magistrate Abbas Shah repeatedly summoned Sumiyya Arshad, producer Ali Usman, and other prosecution witnesses to record their testimony in the trial but due to their failure to appear before the court, warrants were issued.

In March this year, the judge had issued bailable arrest warrants against all the witnesses to procure the attendance but to no avail.

However, speaking to a private TV channel, Summaiya had said she had not received the summons from the court and added that she learned about her warrants through media reports.

She said the case in which she was being summoned was not registered on the family’s complaint but on a complaint lodged by the state. The wife of the slain journalist said she only knew about the Supreme Court’s suo motu case regarding the murder of her husband and added that she was present and available on all of the dates in this regard.

During the hearing on Tuesday, the prosecution witnesses again failed to turn up, leading the judge to stop proceedings. In the order, a copy of which is available with Dawn.com, the judge said that the challan of the case was received by the court on March 16 while the prosecution witnesses were summoned on April 5.

“Thereafter, repeated summons were issued to the prosecution witnesses but none of them appeared before the court for recording of evidence which shows [a] lack of interest of [the] prosecution in recording of evidence in the instant case,” the order said.

“Needless to mention that more than 15 opportunities were given to the prosecution to produce evidence,” it said.

It said that a notice had been issued to the state during the previous hearing, inquiring why the case file should not be archived in the record room.

The order said the public prosecutor appeared and recorded his statement in which he said that “private as well as official witnesses of the instant case are not turning up for evidence, therefore, case may be filed”.

“In view of the above, proceeding of the instant case file is hereby stopped. Complainant/prosecution is at liberty to apply for fixation of date when the prosecution/complainant produce all the prosecution witnesses on any date,” the court ordered.

The judge directed that the completed case file be placed in the record room until further orders.

DAWN
 
The widow of a prominent Pakistani journalist who was killed a year ago in Kenya filed a lawsuit on Wednesday against an elite Kenyan police unit she accuses of the wrongful death of her husband.

Javeria Siddique said she filed the lawsuit in Nairobi to get justice for her husband Arshad Sharif, a well-known journalist in his home country Pakistan. Sharif was shot dead on October 23, 2022 by officers from Kenya's General Service Unit, according to Pakistani authorities. The officers involved in the incident later claimed it was a case of mistaken identity.

In court papers seen by The Associated Press (AP), Siddique wants Kenya’s Attorney General, the National Police Service and the Director of Public Prosecutions to punish and prosecute the police officers who killed Arshad Sharif.

The lawsuit also wants the court to direct the Attorney General to issue a public apology, including an acknowledgement of the facts, and acceptance of responsibility to the family of Arshad Sharif within seven days of this court’s order.

“I am suing the GSU because they committed the crime openly, then admitted that it was a case of mistaken identity. But for me it was a targeted assassination because he was living in hiding in Kenya after receiving threats in Pakistan," Siddique said in a phone interview with the AP.

“The Kenyan government never issued any apology. They never contacted us or showed any kind of kindness toward us. It is really cruel for a government to be so insensitive,” Siddique added.

Sharif, 50, was a vocal critic of Pakistan’s former army chief Qamar Javed Bajwa. He fled Pakistan last July to avoid arrest for criticizing the country’s powerful military and later arrived in Kenya.

Police in Nairobi said the journalist was shot and killed when he did not stop driving at a roadblock on the outskirts of the capital. The family, rights groups and Pakistani investigators countered that the killing was an assassination planned in Pakistan.

In Islamabad, police charged two Kenyan-based Pakistani businessmen, who had hosted Sharif in the country, with involvement in his killing.

Sharif’s mother wanted the Supreme Court of Pakistan to ensure the questioning of Bajwa and other former military officials she accused of involvement in conspiring to assassinate her son.

News of the killing shook Pakistan and thousands attended Sharif’s funeral as the nation mourned last year. Sharif's friends, family and colleagues have demanded justice for him on social media and held rallies across Pakistan to draw attention to the case.

The investigators’ 592-page report, issued last year, concluded that the Kenyan police issued contradictory statements following the killing of Sharif.

Pakistan’s military has denied any involvement in the killing of Sharif and said it would support investigators examining who was behind it.

According to Kenyan police's website, the General Service Unit is tasked with providing security to the president and at strategic points, controlling civil disturbance and counterterrorism.

Kenya’s National Police Service and the Independent Policing Oversight Authority, a body responsible for holding the police to account, did not respond to AP’s requests to comment on the lawsuit.

Source: The East African
 
A year today since the murder and still no justice


*******************************
Arshad Sharif Murder: PFUJ urge UN to form fact finding commission
Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) urged United Nations (UN) to form a fact-finding commission for the probe into the murder of Pakistani journalist Arshad Sharif, ARY News reported.

As per details, PFUJ President Afzal Butt said that the Pakistani and Kenyan governments have failed to arrest the suspects of Arshad Sharif’s murder.

Whereas, Union’s Secretary-General Arshad Ansari maintained that it is the failure of both governments that they couldn’t find the murderers of the slain journalist

On October 17, Caretaker Prime Minister (PM) Anwaarul Haq Kakar sought facilitation from Kenyan President Dr William Ruto over the finalization of the investigation into the murder of Pakistani journalist Arshad Sharif.

“The prime minister requested the Kenyan President for facilitation and finalization of the report of special joint investigation team (JIT) in the murder case of late Pakistani journalist Arshad Sharif,” the PM Office said in a statement following the meeting of the two leaders.

The five Kenyan policemen, who were involved in the killing of former ARY News anchorperson and senior journalist Arshad Sharif, have ‘resumed’ their official duties without facing any accountability.

This claim was made by Kenyan Crime and Investigative journalist, Nyaboga Kiage. The journalist said the five cops involved in the fatal shootout are back to work and two of them have been promoted to senior ranks.

Arshad Sharif’s assassination

The senior journalist and former ARY News anchor was killed in Kenyan capital Nairobi on October 23 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.

ARY
 
Arshad Sharif’s killing was not accident: Investigation by Kenyan TV asserts

The killing of senior journalist Arshad Sharif in October last year was a well-planned murder, which left both Pakistan and Kenya looking at each other suspiciously, NTV Kenya reported on Monday.

“One year after the gruesome murder of celebrated Pakistani journalist Arshad Sharif, little to near zero effort has been made to nail his killers,” the Kenyan news channel said in its investigation into the “assassination” of Sharif.

Sharif was shot dead along the Nairobi-Magadi highway on October 23 night in a case of “mistaken identity,” the Kenyan police said. Later the National Police Service Kenya admitted that a police officer shot Sharif dead.

But former Nairobi governor Mike Sonko had claimed that the Kenyan police were tricked into shooting the journalist, who they thought was involved in a motor vehicle theft.

In October this year, caretaker Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar sought facilitation from Kenyan President William Ruto over the finalisation of the investigation into Sharif’s murder.

“NTV can now report that the death of the journalist, who was on the run, was not an accident,” the Kenyan news channel said and added that it was a “well-planned murder” that left both countries looking at each other “suspiciously”. It claimed that neither Kenya nor Pakistan, has committed to unravelling the murder.

NTV claimed neither Kenya nor Pakistan, has committed to unravelling the murder.

The investigation also relies on police photographs taken during the early stages of Sharif’s murder investigation and the search led by special projects and investigations reporter Brian Obuya into the murder.

According to Obuya, it was still not clear whether the journalist was killed in the car his body was found in or if he was killed elsewhere and his body placed in the car.

Obuya said the bullet that hit Sharif had to pass through the rear hatch of the vehicle and seats before going through Sharif’s body. It must have been a sballistic bullestic, he said.


www.aajenglish.tv

Arshad Sharif’s killing was not accident: Investigation by Kenyan TV asserts

Kenya’s NTV says journalist’s killing in October last year was well-planned murder
www.aajenglish.tv
 
Cricket Warrior said:
Arshad Sharif’s killing was not accident: Investigation by Kenyan TV asserts

The killing of senior journalist Arshad Sharif in October last year was a well-planned murder, which left both Pakistan and Kenya looking at each other suspiciously, NTV Kenya reported on Monday.

“One year after the gruesome murder of celebrated Pakistani journalist Arshad Sharif, little to near zero effort has been made to nail his killers,” the Kenyan news channel said in its investigation into the “assassination” of Sharif.

Sharif was shot dead along the Nairobi-Magadi highway on October 23 night in a case of “mistaken identity,” the Kenyan police said. Later the National Police Service Kenya admitted that a police officer shot Sharif dead.

But former Nairobi governor Mike Sonko had claimed that the Kenyan police were tricked into shooting the journalist, who they thought was involved in a motor vehicle theft.

In October this year, caretaker Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar sought facilitation from Kenyan President William Ruto over the finalisation of the investigation into Sharif’s murder.

“NTV can now report that the death of the journalist, who was on the run, was not an accident,” the Kenyan news channel said and added that it was a “well-planned murder” that left both countries looking at each other “suspiciously”. It claimed that neither Kenya nor Pakistan, has committed to unravelling the murder.

NTV claimed neither Kenya nor Pakistan, has committed to unravelling the murder.

The investigation also relies on police photographs taken during the early stages of Sharif’s murder investigation and the search led by special projects and investigations reporter Brian Obuya into the murder.

According to Obuya, it was still not clear whether the journalist was killed in the car his body was found in or if he was killed elsewhere and his body placed in the car.

Obuya said the bullet that hit Sharif had to pass through the rear hatch of the vehicle and seats before going through Sharif’s body. It must have been a sballistic bullestic, he said.


www.aajenglish.tv

Arshad Sharif’s killing was not accident: Investigation by Kenyan TV asserts

Kenya’s NTV says journalist’s killing in October last year was well-planned murder
www.aajenglish.tv
Click to expand...
Bajwa, NS, Nani and Nadeem will hang for his murder.
 
Reporters Without Borders calls for int’l probe into Arshad Sharif case after UN letter to Pakistan, Kenya

Global media watchdog Reporters Without Borders (RSF) on Wednesday called for an independent international probe into journalist Arshad Sharif’s murder after it said United Nations special rapporteurs “deplored” the Pakistani and Kenyan governments for their “failure to cooperate and conduct any serious investigation”.

Sharif, a broadcast journalist associated with ARY News, was shot dead in Nairobi in October last year. Initial reports on his killing by the Kenyan media had quoted local police as saying that Sharif was shot dead by police in a case of “mistaken identity”.

However, 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 officers

In October, RSF had itself accused authorities in both countries of being uncooperative and engaging in duplicity following a year-long investigation into the murder

The letter to the Pakistani authorities, written by Irene Khan, special rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression, and Morris Tidball-Binz, special rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions, had expressed “deep concern” about the “death threats and legal actions” against Sharif.

It had also called on the government to “cease all criminalisation and harassment of journalists carrying out their legitimate work, particularly those whose work is of a political nature,” noting that the threats against Sharif and his eventual death were “part of a wider trend of intimidations against journalists in Pakistan, particularly those who criticise state institutions.”

Source : Dawn News
 
The Bald Eagle said:
Reporters Without Borders calls for int’l probe into Arshad Sharif case after UN letter to Pakistan, Kenya

Global media watchdog Reporters Without Borders (RSF) on Wednesday called for an independent international probe into journalist Arshad Sharif’s murder after it said United Nations special rapporteurs “deplored” the Pakistani and Kenyan governments for their “failure to cooperate and conduct any serious investigation”.

Sharif, a broadcast journalist associated with ARY News, was shot dead in Nairobi in October last year. Initial reports on his killing by the Kenyan media had quoted local police as saying that Sharif was shot dead by police in a case of “mistaken identity”.

However, 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 officers

In October, RSF had itself accused authorities in both countries of being uncooperative and engaging in duplicity following a year-long investigation into the murder

The letter to the Pakistani authorities, written by Irene Khan, special rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression, and Morris Tidball-Binz, special rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions, had expressed “deep concern” about the “death threats and legal actions” against Sharif.

It had also called on the government to “cease all criminalisation and harassment of journalists carrying out their legitimate work, particularly those whose work is of a political nature,” noting that the threats against Sharif and his eventual death were “part of a wider trend of intimidations against journalists in Pakistan, particularly those who criticise state institutions.”

Source : Dawn News
Click to expand...
IA Arshads family will get justice.
 
The situation for journalists in Pakistan is getting worse

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Journalist Jibran Khalil killed in Landi Kotal shooting​


Jibran Khalil, a renowned journalist belonging to newly-merged tribal districts, was shot dead by unidentified assailants in Landi Kotal, Khyber district.

District Police Officer Saleem Abbas stated that the incident occurred in the Mazrina area of Landi Kotal when unknown individuals opened fire, killing Khalil, a former president of the Landi Kotal Press Club.

According to police, Khalil was returning home in a car with Advocate Sajjad when their vehicle broke down. Assailants in another car pulled them out and opened fire, killing Khalil instantly and injuring Sajjad, who was taken to a hospital for medical treatment.

Police reported that Khalil had received threats from terrorists.

Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur condemned the murder and instructed police to take immediate action to apprehend those responsible. He expressed condolences to the slain journalist's family, praying for their strength and assuring them that the killers would be brought to justice.

The slain journalist was laid to rest amidst mourning and protests. His body was placed on the Pak-Afghan Highway as thousands gathered to protest the incident. Speeches were made by political leaders and journalists, condemning the attack and demanding severe punishment for the perpetrators. They also called for a government compensation package for the slain journalist's family and support for his orphaned children.

The attack took place around 9pm on June 18 in Mazrina, where Khalil was ambushed by armed individuals. Local witnesses said Khalil agonised for two hours before police and security forces arrived. On Wednesday morning, his body was placed on the highway in protest, drawing a massive crowd.

The Tribal Union of Journalists' president Qazi Fazlullah and other prominent figures addressed the gathering, highlighting Khalil's contributions and criticising the security forces for failing to maintain order. They called for local citizens to arm themselves for protection, citing repeated threats to journalists.

A nationwide protest by the journalist community was announced for Thursday, with planned demonstrations in Khyber on Friday and Saturday. Speakers emphasised the urgent need for a strong national unity to ensure safety and prevent further violence. They also highlighted the region's mineral wealth and warned against any conspiracies to seize it.

In conclusion, the speakers demanded a comprehensive security plan for journalists, a compensation package for Khalil’s family, and education for his children. After his funeral, journalists laid wreaths on his grave and offered prayers.

tribune.com.pk

Journalist Jibran Khalil killed in Landi Kotal shooting | The Express Tribune

Slain journalist’s body was placed on Pak-Afghan Highway as thousands gather to protest the incident
tribune.com.pk tribune.com.pk
 
At last, a success

KeKshtx.png
 
FearlessRoar said:
At last, a success

KeKshtx.png
Click to expand...

Court orders State to pay family of Pakistani journalist Arshad Sh10m as compensation​


The High Court sitting in Kajiado has awarded Sh10 million to the family of slain Pakistani Journalist Arshad Sharif who was mistakenly shot dead by Kenyan police officers in October 2022.

While delivering her judgement, Justice Stella Mutuku said the use of lethal force against Sharif by shooting him in the head was unlawful and unconstitutional.

She faulted the Attorney General, the DPP and other investigating agencies for their laxity in concluding the probe and charging police officers behind Arshad's death.

She said the State agencies named in the petition cannot escape responsibility for the death as they each have a role to play based on the reliefs sought by the family.

Through Advocate Dudley Ochiel, Javeria Siddique wanted the court to issue an order compelling the attorney general, director of public prosecutions, inspector general of police, independent policing oversight authority and the national police service commission(respondents) to supply her with copies of all documents or evidence including but not limited to films, photographs, videotapes in their custody relating to the shooting in question.

She argued that they have not obtained any justice through investigations and prosecution of those responsible for the killing.

Arshad allegedly fled his motherland in July 2022 to avoid arrest for criticizing the country's powerful military only to be shot dead in Kajiado, in what the police later described as a case of mistaken identity.

Police admitted to the killing that occurred on October 23 last year.

The police claimed to have been trailing a different vehicle, a Mercedez Benz Sprinter Van KDJ 700F allegedly stolen from Pangani.

But Arshad was in a Toyota Landcruiser (V8) KDG 200m.

In awarding the compensation, the judge said it was imprudent to keep the family of the deceased in the dark without updates on the progress of the probe and its outcome.

"By shooting the deceased in the circumstances described in this case and which shooting has been admitted save for allegation that it was mistaken identity, the respondents violated the rights of the deceased," said the Judge.

She said Arshad was subjected to torture and the AG can't escape responsibility.

"The petitioners have persuaded the court that Arshad's rights were violated," said the Judge.

"The Loss of life cannot be compensated in monetary terms nor is the pain and suffering the family must have gone through. But there's consensus that compensation is appropriate remedy for redress in violation of fundamental rights," she added.

She subsequently issued a mandatory order compelling the respondents to conclude investigating and take appropriate action including disciplinary action and prosecution of the officers who shot and killed Shariff in Kajiado on 23 October if found culpable.

She also issued an order compelling the respondents to supply petitioners with an update on the status of the investigations.

She also issued a declaration that the unlawful shooting leading to Arshad's death by Kenya police officers at Kajiado County violated his right to life, equal benefit and protection of law and right to dignity.

The award for Sh10 million was however suspended for 30 days after the state through advocate Augustine Kipkuto informed the court that they are not in a state to make the payments now.

"Amount being sought are public funds. No provision for it now. Arrangements have to be made," he said.

The judge allowed his application but only suspended the order on compensation.

www.the-star.co.ke

Court orders State to pay family of Pakistani journalist Arshad Sh10m as compensation

The Judge said the State agencies named in the petition cannot escape responsibility.
www.the-star.co.ke www.the-star.co.ke
 
FearlessRoar said:

Court orders State to pay family of Pakistani journalist Arshad Sh10m as compensation​


The High Court sitting in Kajiado has awarded Sh10 million to the family of slain Pakistani Journalist Arshad Sharif who was mistakenly shot dead by Kenyan police officers in October 2022.

While delivering her judgement, Justice Stella Mutuku said the use of lethal force against Sharif by shooting him in the head was unlawful and unconstitutional.

She faulted the Attorney General, the DPP and other investigating agencies for their laxity in concluding the probe and charging police officers behind Arshad's death.

She said the State agencies named in the petition cannot escape responsibility for the death as they each have a role to play based on the reliefs sought by the family.

Through Advocate Dudley Ochiel, Javeria Siddique wanted the court to issue an order compelling the attorney general, director of public prosecutions, inspector general of police, independent policing oversight authority and the national police service commission(respondents) to supply her with copies of all documents or evidence including but not limited to films, photographs, videotapes in their custody relating to the shooting in question.

She argued that they have not obtained any justice through investigations and prosecution of those responsible for the killing.

Arshad allegedly fled his motherland in July 2022 to avoid arrest for criticizing the country's powerful military only to be shot dead in Kajiado, in what the police later described as a case of mistaken identity.

Police admitted to the killing that occurred on October 23 last year.

The police claimed to have been trailing a different vehicle, a Mercedez Benz Sprinter Van KDJ 700F allegedly stolen from Pangani.

But Arshad was in a Toyota Landcruiser (V8) KDG 200m.

In awarding the compensation, the judge said it was imprudent to keep the family of the deceased in the dark without updates on the progress of the probe and its outcome.

"By shooting the deceased in the circumstances described in this case and which shooting has been admitted save for allegation that it was mistaken identity, the respondents violated the rights of the deceased," said the Judge.

She said Arshad was subjected to torture and the AG can't escape responsibility.

"The petitioners have persuaded the court that Arshad's rights were violated," said the Judge.

"The Loss of life cannot be compensated in monetary terms nor is the pain and suffering the family must have gone through. But there's consensus that compensation is appropriate remedy for redress in violation of fundamental rights," she added.

She subsequently issued a mandatory order compelling the respondents to conclude investigating and take appropriate action including disciplinary action and prosecution of the officers who shot and killed Shariff in Kajiado on 23 October if found culpable.

She also issued an order compelling the respondents to supply petitioners with an update on the status of the investigations.

She also issued a declaration that the unlawful shooting leading to Arshad's death by Kenya police officers at Kajiado County violated his right to life, equal benefit and protection of law and right to dignity.

The award for Sh10 million was however suspended for 30 days after the state through advocate Augustine Kipkuto informed the court that they are not in a state to make the payments now.

"Amount being sought are public funds. No provision for it now. Arrangements have to be made," he said.

The judge allowed his application but only suspended the order on compensation.

www.the-star.co.ke

Court orders State to pay family of Pakistani journalist Arshad Sh10m as compensation

The Judge said the State agencies named in the petition cannot escape responsibility.
www.the-star.co.ke www.the-star.co.ke
Click to expand...
Moment of Shame for QFE and his cronies
 
IA Shaheed Arshad Sharif will receive justice posthumously. Establishment will pay a very heavy price for this murder
 
Arshad Sharif's murder case has been scheduled for a hearing in the Supreme Court. A three-member bench, headed by Justice Mansoor Ali Shah, will hear the case on July 29.

Samaa News
 
FearlessRoar said:
Arshad Sharif's murder case has been scheduled for a hearing in the Supreme Court. A three-member bench, headed by Justice Mansoor Ali Shah, will hear the case on July 29.

Samaa News
Click to expand...
Let's see. Justice Mansoor flip flops that you don't know where he stands on anything.
 

Scotland Yard drops probe into Sharif family's alleged involvement in Arshad Sharif's murder​


Scotland Yard on Thursday decided not to investigate former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, his daughter Maryam Nawaz Sharif, and their associates in connection with the killing of journalist Arshad Sharif in Kenya and a gun attack on Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Founder Imran Khan in Wazirabad, citing a lack of evidence.

The Metropolitan Police’s Counter Terrorism Command Unit, after thorough consideration, determined that there were no grounds to launch a formal investigation.

The complainant, Tasneem Haider Shah, failed to provide sufficient evidence to support his claims against the Sharifs and their colleagues, Mian Saleem Raza, Nasir Mahmood, Zubair Gull, and Rashid Nasrullah.

In November 2022, Shah, a senior PML-N activist in the UK, made headlines by alleging that the Sharifs and their associates were involved in plotting Arshad Sharif’s murder in London on July 8, 2022. This prompted the Metropolitan Police to conduct a “scoping exercise” to assess the validity of these allegations.

Shah, accompanied by his solicitor Mahtab Anwar Aziz, attended multiple press conferences and police meetings to emphasise that there was enough evidence to warrant an investigation. The seriousness of the allegations led Scotland Yard’s Central West Command Unit to refer the matter to its Counter Terrorism Command Unit.

After nearly 18 months of assessment, Scotland Yard informed that it would not be commencing an investigation in the UK due to insufficient evidence.

A Metropolitan Police spokesperson stated, “In November 2022, the Met Police received reports related to allegations of conspiracy to murder in Pakistan and Kenya. The matter was reviewed by specialist detectives who determined there were insufficient grounds to launch an investigation.”

The first complaint was lodged on November 5, 2022, accusing Nawaz and Maryam of ordering an attack on Imran Khan from London. Despite this, the police took no action due to a lack of evidence.

Imran Khan was shot and injured on November 1, 2022, during a PTI march in Wazirabad. Following this, Shah held a press conference on November 20, 2022, claiming the police were investigating and that he had submitted evidence on three occasions.

Haider alleged that the plot to attack Arshad Sharif was devised in London and that he was asked to find shooters in Kenya for the attack. He also claimed to have seen footage of Arshad being tortured at PML-N’s London office while Nawaz Sharif was present.

Despite the police's decision to close the case, Haider maintains his allegations, asserting that the individuals involved have a history of misconduct and that he is now in contact with the Kenyan government regarding the Arshad Sharif case.

tribune.com.pk

Scotland Yard drops probe into Sharif family's alleged involvement in Arshad Sharif's murder | The Express Tribune

After thorough consideration, Met Police determined there were no grounds to launch a formal investigation
tribune.com.pk tribune.com.pk
 
Fate of Arshad Sharif’s murder case hangs in the balance

The Supreme Court on Monday referred journalist Arshad Sharif’s murder case back to the three-judge committee constituted under the Supreme Court (Practice and Procedure) Act, 2023 to re-fix it before a five-judge bench.

Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah, who was heading a three-judge bench, noted that the case has been fixed before the smaller bench even though a five-judge larger bench had heard it earlier.

Since Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhail and Justice Mohammad Ali Mazhar were also members of the larger bench earlier, he observed that the case would be fixed for hearing subject to the availability of the two judges.

Former Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Umar Ata Bandial had initiated the suo motu proceedings into the tragic killing of the journalist in Kenya.

On Monday, Attorney General for Pakistan Mansoor Usman Awan told the court that a draft of the Mutual Legal Assistance (MLA) designed to seek a formal assistance from the Kenyan authorities for having access to suspects involved in the tragic killing of Arshad Sharif was ready.

The next meeting of the cabinet was expected to approve the MLA draft, the AGP said.

Also, at the last hearing on June 13, 2023, the AGP had apprised the court that a proper MLA was being drafted and its final draft would be placed before the cabinet for its final approval.

When the court asked whether a decision from the Kenyan court had also come, the AGP replied in the affirmative.

Three weeks ago, the Kenyan High Court in Kajiado had ruled that the 2022 killing of Pakistani Arshad Sharif by Kenyan law enforcement personnel was unlawful.

The SC, however, said at the moment the court would not go into the merits of the case.

At the hearing, Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui reminded the court that he had also moved an application on behalf of the journalist’s mother. Those claiming to be aware of the culprits behind the murder should be called by the court, he said. He reminded the court of the role of the “facilitator” that it pledged to carry out in the matter.

The counsel also requested the court to re-fix the matter within two weeks, but Justice Shah observed that the re-fixing of the case depended upon the availability of the judges.

The hearing, however, was then adjourned for an indefinite period.

DAWN
 
We all know why this justice has been denied. Who gave the order?
 
SC’s larger bench formed to hear Arshad Sharif’s murder case

The SC’s Practice and Procedure Committee led by Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Qazi Faez Isa decided to form a five-member larger bench instead of a three-member bench with a 2-1 majority vote.

The sources privy to the development said that CJP Qazi Faez Isa suggested keeping the 3-member bench intact, but Justice Mansoor Ali Shah and Justice Munib Akhtar, the other two members of the committee, voted in favor of forming a larger bench.

The new bench of headed by Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhail and comprising Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar, Justice Ayesha Malik, Justice Hasan Azhar Rizvi, and Justice Athar Minallah will hear the case to a date which will be announced later.

Earlier on JlThe High Court in Kenya’s Kajiado has awarded 10 million Kenyan shillings to the family of slain Arshad Sharif, a Pakistani journalist who was ‘mistakenly’ shot and killed by Kenyan police officers in October 2022.

Arshad Sharif, senior journalist was shot dead in the Kenyan capital Nairobi on October 23 where he was living in self-exile.

The official police statement later expressed “regrets on the unfortunate incident.”

Arshad Sharif’s wife Javeria Siddique through her lawyer, Advocate Dudley Ochiel, requested the court to order the Attorney General, Director of Public Prosecutions, Inspector General of Police, Independent Policing Oversight Authority, and the National Police Service Commission (the respondents) to provide her with copies of all documents, evidence, films, photographs, and video recordings in their possession related to Sharif’s shooting.

“By shooting the deceased in the circumstances described in this case and which shooting has been admitted save for allegation that it was mistaken identity, the respondents violated the rights of the deceased,” the judge said in an order.

arynews.tv

SC's larger bench formed to hear Arshad Sharif's murder case

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court (SC) of Pakistan constituted a five-member larger bench to hear a suo motu case pertaining to senior journalist and former
arynews.tv arynews.tv
 

Multiple FIRs against Arshad Sharif over single allegation not valid: IHC​


The Islamabad High Court has issued a written ruling on petitions challenging the registration of multiple cases against late Arshad Sharif and other journalists.

The court stated that multiple FIRs that were lodged against Arshad Sharif for a single allegation are not legally tenable.

According to Express News, the decision addresses whether multiple cases can be filed across the country for a single accusation.

The ruling, penned by Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani and spanning 36 pages, was made in response to pending petitions from May 2022.

The court remarked that Arshad Sharif faced unfair harassment from the authorities.

It was noted that only one FIR should have been considered valid for investigating the allegations against him.

The judgment said that multiple FIRs against Arshad Sharif are not justifiable under the law.

It acknowledged the significant harm suffered by Sharif’s family, which cannot be compensated.

The court also referred to the Protection of Journalists Act, enacted on December 1, 2021, which aims to safeguard journalists.

Despite this, journalists continue to face unjust harassment.

The ruling suggested that Sharif’s family could approach the commission established under the Act to rectify.

The written decision outlined that the commission has a legal obligation to investigate the harassment faced by Arshad Sharif and any threats to his life.

The commission is responsible for addressing journalists' complaints related to legal cases against them.

Journalist Arshad Sharif left Pakistan in 2022 over what he said were threats to his life.

On 23 October 2022, he was shot and killed by local police in Kenya, under cdontrovertial circumstances. However, his family allege it was a premeditated assassination involving senior Pakistani officials.

tribune.com.pk

IHC invalidates multiple FIRs against Arshad Sharif | The Express Tribune

The court states that multiple FIRs that were lodged against Arshad Sharif for a single allegation are not legally tenable.
tribune.com.pk tribune.com.pk
 
FearlessRoar said:

Multiple FIRs against Arshad Sharif over single allegation not valid: IHC​


The Islamabad High Court has issued a written ruling on petitions challenging the registration of multiple cases against late Arshad Sharif and other journalists.

The court stated that multiple FIRs that were lodged against Arshad Sharif for a single allegation are not legally tenable.

According to Express News, the decision addresses whether multiple cases can be filed across the country for a single accusation.

The ruling, penned by Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani and spanning 36 pages, was made in response to pending petitions from May 2022.

The court remarked that Arshad Sharif faced unfair harassment from the authorities.

It was noted that only one FIR should have been considered valid for investigating the allegations against him.

The judgment said that multiple FIRs against Arshad Sharif are not justifiable under the law.

It acknowledged the significant harm suffered by Sharif’s family, which cannot be compensated.

The court also referred to the Protection of Journalists Act, enacted on December 1, 2021, which aims to safeguard journalists.

Despite this, journalists continue to face unjust harassment.

The ruling suggested that Sharif’s family could approach the commission established under the Act to rectify.

The written decision outlined that the commission has a legal obligation to investigate the harassment faced by Arshad Sharif and any threats to his life.

The commission is responsible for addressing journalists' complaints related to legal cases against them.

Journalist Arshad Sharif left Pakistan in 2022 over what he said were threats to his life.

On 23 October 2022, he was shot and killed by local police in Kenya, under cdontrovertial circumstances. However, his family allege it was a premeditated assassination involving senior Pakistani officials.

tribune.com.pk

IHC invalidates multiple FIRs against Arshad Sharif | The Express Tribune

The court states that multiple FIRs that were lodged against Arshad Sharif for a single allegation are not legally tenable.
tribune.com.pk tribune.com.pk
Click to expand...
This was allowed in the SC by the corrupt Isa and the guy that looks like he loves His Pizzas. IK has faced the Toshakhana case again and again. Same with 9th May cases against SMQ BECAUSE he refused to betray IK
 
Arshad Sharif murder case: Govt seeks time from SC to ratify mutual legal assistance pact with Kenya

The government has sought more time from the Supreme Court to ratify a mutual legal assistance agreement with Kenya in journalist Arshad Sharif’s murder case as the constitutional bench took up the hearing on Friday.

Sharif was shot in the head when Kenyan police opened fire on his car in October 2022. He had left Pakistan in August 2022 after multiple cases of sedition were registered against him in different cities.

In August last year, former chief justice of Pakistan Qazi Faez Isa had explained that the Arshad Sharif murder case was not fixed before a five-judge larger bench as it did not require any constitutional interpretation.

In July, the top court had referred the case back to the three-judge committee constituted under the Supreme Court (Practice and Procedure) Act, 2023 to re-fix it before a five-judge bench.

Friday’s suo moto case was taken up by a six-member constitutional bench headed by Justice Aminuddin Khan.

At the outset of the hearing, the federal government sought more time to ratify the mutual legal assistance agreement with Kenya.

Additional Attorney General (AAG) Aamir Rehman informed the court that a mutual legal assistance agreement has been signed with Kenya, the process of ratifying the agreement was underway.

He added that the document would be ratified by the president within a month.

The members of the constitutional bench raised questions over the case’s slow progress.

Justice Hassan Azhar Rizvi asked why the agreement had not been ratified yet if it was signed on December 10 last year.

While addressing the AAG, Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhail asked: “Will we have to ask you for a progress report on a daily basis?”

Meanwhile, Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar, while speaking to the AAG, said: “More time is being sought even after three months?”

Justice Rizvi observed that a well-known journalist of Pakistan was mercilessly murdered. “Why is the Pakistani government not supporting the journalist’s family in Kenya?”.

The joint secretary (interior) informed the court that the Ministry of Interior had written a note to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for mutual legal cooperation.

Justice Rizvi directed that a progress report be submitted to the court on a daily basis.

Justice Khan remarked: “Our concern is that so much time has passed, why has there been such a delay in the Arshad Sharif [murder] case?”

Justice Naeem Akhtar Afghan remarked that the Kenyan court had issued a decision which should be brought to the court record. “The Kenyan High Court gave its decision in July and you have not brought it to the court record,” he said.

The SC directed that the Kenyan High Court’s decision be brought to court record and adjourned the hearing for a month on the request of AAG Rehman.

DAWN NEWS
 
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