In a major development, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has decided to form a judicial commission headed by a high court judge to conduct a probe into the killing of journalist Arshad Sharif in Kenya.
Information Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb initially made the announcement of a judicial commission in a statement. She said that the head of the commission would also be able to appoint members from civil society and the media fraternity in order to ascertain the facts.
The minister further said that the decision was taken by the premier to ascertain the facts leading to the journalist’s killing on the outskirts of Nairobi, the capital of Kenya.
وزیرِ اطلاعات مریم اورنگزیب کا بیان
وزیراعظم شہباز شریف کا سینئر صحافی ارشد
شریف کے جاں بحق ہونے کے معاملے کی تحقیقات کرانے کا فیصلہوزیراعظم کا ہائی کورٹ کے جج کی سربراہی میں جوڈیشل انکوائری کرانے کا فیصلہ کیا ہے
— PMLN (@pmln_org) October 25, 2022
I have decided to form a Judicial Commission to hold an inquiry into the killing of journalist Arshad Sharif in order to determine the facts of the tragic incident in a transparent & conclusive manner.
— Shehbaz Sharif (@CMShehbaz) October 25, 2022
Earlier today, Islamabad High Court had turned down a request by Barrister Shoaib Razzak to form a fact-finding commission regarding Arshad Sharif’s death, saying it was a matter of different countries and it didn’t seem appropriate to form such a commission at this stage.
Read more: Arshad Sharif: Silencing the voice of dissent
On the other hand, it is also being reported that the General Headquarters of Pakistan Army (GHQ) has written a letter to the federal government, seeking to form an inquiry commission to investigate the killing of prominent Pakistani journalist Arshad Sharif.
The GHQ has also asked the federal government to take action against elements involved in leveling baseless allegations [against armed forces].
One of Pakistan’s leading journalists, Arshad Sharif, was shot dead in Kenya’s Nairobi city early Monday. The Kenyan police claimed that it was a case of “mistaken identity”.
The killing of Arshad Sharif has sent shockwaves across Pakistan as he was a very popular journalist and anchorperson. Condolences poured in from colleagues and politicians on the journalist’s death. The civic society in Pakistan has expressed shock over the death. Moreover, the international community has also condemned the killing.
Read more: US strongly condemns killing of journalist Arshad Sharif
Former prime minister Imran Khan condemned the death and said Sharif had been murdered for his journalistic work. He called for a judicial investigation into the incident.
Washington also urged Kenya to investigate.