Human Rights Council of Pakistan (HRCP) has honored slain journalist Arshad Sharif with Human Rights Award “in recognition of his services to humanity”.
The award was announced in name of Arshad Sharif in recognition of his outstanding achievements in the field of human rights. According to HRCP, the martyred journalist had rendered service to the nation in a very short span of his life. The prize is given to individuals or organizations in recognition of making life easier for others.
Read more: Fact-finding report on Arshad Sharif’s murder reveals alarming details
Senior journalist Khawar Ghumman accepted the award on behalf of Arshad Sharif. He expressed that it was very difficult for him to accept the award in place of Arshad Sharif.
“It was a very difficult moment. Received this award in place of Shaheed Arshad Sharif yesterday. Allah’s command is not to call the martyrs dead. Brother must be watching here somewhere,” Khawar Ghumman said.
بہت مشکل لمحہ تھا۔ کل شہید ارشد شریف کی جگہ ان کا ایوارڈ وصول کیا۔ اللہ کا حکم ہے شہیدوں کو مردہ مت کہو۔ بھائی یہیں کہیں دیکھ رہا ہو گا۔ pic.twitter.com/howdhXw3Jx
— Khawar Ghumman (@Ghummans) December 29, 2022
Arshad Sharif was shot dead in Kenya’s Nairobi city on October 23, under mysterious circumstances. The death of the journalist sent shock waves across rights organizations, the media fraternity, and civil society and prompted calls for thorough investigation and disclosure of facts.
Honoring Arshad Sharif’s memory
Earlier, one of UK’s top universities, Ulster University, announced an award named after senior investigative journalist Arshad Sharif. The university will honor Arshad Sharif’s memory by giving an award named after him each year to one of its students for the best articles produced in investigative journalism.
Ulster University has also added Arshad Sharif’s name to its Tree of Hope in the university oratory in Coleraine as the institute remembers him and his family at this time of the year.
Read more: Arshad Sharif: A Hero that Reminds of Aristotle’s “Greek Tragedy”
Meanwhile, Pakistan’s Government College University (GCU) renamed its media department to the Arshad Sharif School of Journalism in honor of the slain journalist. A new building of Arshad Sharif School of Journalism will also be constructed on the campus and an Endowment fund would be set up for this purpose.