RSF calls for independent international probe into Arshad Sharif’s murder
Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has urged for an independent international investigation into the murder of journalist Arshad Sharif. Sharif, a journalist associated with ARY News, was shot dead in Nairobi in October last year. The initial reports indicated that Sharif was shot dead by police in a case of “mistaken identity”, but later reports suggested that an occupant in Sharif’s car was believed to have shot at officers.
RSF accused authorities in both Pakistan and Kenya of being uncooperative and engaging in duplicity following a year-long investigation into the murder. The United Nations special rapporteurs had written to both countries’ governments in October and had expressed their “unrelenting” criticism on their handling of the matter. Specifically, the UN special rapporteurs raised concern about the “death threats and legal actions” against Sharif and questioned the lack of successful investigations and unclear reasons for the lack of progress in identifying the perpetrators.
In response, the Government of Pakistan stated that it was “fully determined” to pursue the murder case and ensure that those responsible were held to account. The government outlined measures taken in relation to the case, including the formation of a special joint investigation team (SJIT) and progress reports sent to the apex court.
The case remains a work in progress, and an independent international investigation has been called for to establish the facts about the murder of journalist Arshad Sharif.