In a major development, Kenyan police have said that senior journalist Arshad Sharif was shot in a “mistaken identity” case.
According to the details, Kenyan newspaper The Star reported Sharif was fatally shot in the head by the police over an alleged violation of a roadblock while traveling to Nairobi from the country’s Magadi town.
“We had an incident of shooting, which turned out to be a case of mistaken identity involving a journalist. We will release more information later,” The Star quoted a police officer as saying.
Read more: Senior journalist Arshad Sharif shot dead in Kenya – Nation in shock
As per the publication, the police said that personnel at the manned roadblock had received information to intercept a car similar to the one Sharif and his driver were using following a carjacking incident in Nairobi in which a child was allegedly taken hostage.
Murdering someone and calling it “mistaken identity” ? 🙄
Coming at the heels of revelations of the special killer squad #SSU within @DCI_Kenya underscores the urgency of a total overhaul, not cosmetic changes.
Condolences to the family & friends of journalist @arsched https://t.co/kBDvnsHrve
— Dr. Roselyn Akombe (@DrRoselynAkombe) October 24, 2022
Pakistan in contact with Kenya
Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari expressed sorrow over the death of the journalist and said that the Pakistani government is in contact with Kenyan authorities in this regard.
“The unbelievable incident of journalist Arshad Sharif’s murder is extremely shocking and an irreparable loss to the journalist community of Pakistan.”
“I offer my condolences to journalist Arshad Sharif’s family, journalist community and his fans,” said the foreign minister.
ارشد شریف کے قتل کے معاملے میں وزارت خارجہ کینیا کے حکام سے رابطے میں ہے، وزیر خارجہ بلاول بھٹو زرداری
— PPP (@MediaCellPPP) October 24, 2022
Meanwhile, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) sought a report from the interior and foreign ministries into the alleged killing of the senior journalist and former anchorperson of ARY News Arshad Sharif in Kenya.
Hearing the plea, IHC Chief Justice Athar Minallah asked about the body of the senior journalist.
According to the latest developments, the body has been identified in a Kenyan morgue. Federal Information Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb has confirmed that the body of Arshad Sharif, the slain Pakistani senior journalist, has been identified in the Kenyan capital of Nairobi.
Read more: Anchorperson Arshad Sharif urges President to secure rights of journalists
“Pakistan High Commissioner, Kenyan police authorities, and doctors are currently in the mortuary, where Sharif’s body has been kept,” the minister said.
She added that the procedure for the repatriation of his body had been initiated. “We have requested Kenyan authorities to expedite the procedure,” Aurangzeb further said.