-In letter to Chief Justice, PM seeks formation of Judicial Commission to probe Arshad Sharif’s killing in Kenya
Staff Report
ISLAMABAD: Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah said on Tuesday evidence suggested Arshad Sharif, a prominent Pakistani journalist, was the victim of a targeted killing in Kenya, not an accidental shooting, though he still needed more information on the incident.
Kenyan police spokesman Bruno Shioso declined to respond to the minister’s comments on the death of TV journalist Arshad Sharif, who was shot dead on the evening of Oct. 23 on the outskirts of the Kenyan capital Nairobi.
A police report a day after the shooting said police officers hunting car thieves opened fire on the vehicle that Sharif was travelling in as it drove through their roadblock without stopping.
Shioso said the case was now being investigated by the police watchdog, the state Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA).
A spokesperson at the IPOA did not immediately respond to calls and a message seeking comment.
Interior Minister Sanaullah told journalists on Tuesday: “Arshad Sharif’s death is not a case of mistaken identity – I can say, and, on the evidence we have so far, this prima facie is a target killing.”
“We still need to obtain more (evidence) to confirm all this and we have asked the Kenyan government for more data,” he added.
Pakistan’s government formed an investigation team to look into the matter, which caused uproar in the country.
Sanaullah said the team had returned from Kenya, but Kenyan police had not yet given Pakistani investigators all of Sharif’s recovered belongings.
“We will now ask the foreign office to contact the Kenyan government, and the prime minister will also speak to the Kenyan president,” the minister said.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif Tuesday penned a letter to Chief Justice of Pakistan Umar Ata Bandial seeking the formation of a judicial commission to probe the death of slain journalist Arshad Sharif — who lost his life at the hands of Kenyan Police in what was described as a “mistaken identity” case in October.
The prime minister asked the chief justice to form a commission comprising all the justices of the Supreme Court as the commission was important to uphold the law in the country.
Civil society members, journalists, politicians, and people from all walks of life condemned the killing of Sharif and demanded the government ascertain the cause behind his untimely death.
He suggested the CJP focus on five questions — through which procedure did Arshad Sharif go abroad in August 2022? Who facilitated Sharif’s departure abroad? Was any federal or provincial agency aware of any threat to Sharif? Was any organisation or administration aware of any threat to Sharif? If Sharif’s life was in danger, what steps were taken to save him? What were the circumstances, and reasons under Sharif went to Kenya from UAE? What is the truth behind the shooting incident in which Sharif died?
The prime minister also assured the CJP that the federal government would provide full support to the commission and that the government was already probing the incident through its resources.
“After the unfortunate incident, we sent a team comprising experienced officers to Kenya. The federal government had formed a commission which included a retired judge of the Lahore High Court.”
PM Shehbaz said it is important to probe Sharif’s contacts before his departure from Pakistan. He added that Sharif’s mother had also asked him to form a commission and the government fully backs her demand.
“After the death of Sharif, suspicions were raised about the federal government and state institutions. Supreme Court Commission must be formed to restore public trust. If an impartial body does not investigate, there is a risk of damage on a long-term basis,” the prime minister stressed.
