Arshad Who?
Written by Howard Alexanda
Arshad Sharif, a prominent Pakistani journalist and television news anchor, was fatally shot in Kajiado, Kenya, on 23 October 2022. The Kenyan police described the incident as a case of "mistaken identity," but this account has been met with suspicion, leading to widespread speculation about the true circumstances surrounding his death.
The Kenyan authorities initially described the incident as a case of "mistaken identity," claiming that police officers responsible for the shooting were pursuing a stolen vehicle involved in a child abduction and that Sharif's car failed to stop at a roadblock.
The Pakistani government formed a two-member committee to investigate the circumstances surrounding Sharif's death. The committee travelled to Kenya, met with local authorities, and collected evidence.
After conducting a thorough investigation, they concluded that Sharif's death was a "pre-planned" and "targeted,” “assassination" rather than an accidental shooting. Their 600-page report highlighted inconsistencies in the Kenyan police's account, suggesting that the fatal shot was fired from close range, from within the vehicle, which contradicts the claim of a high-speed chase and shooting.
Sharif was known for his investigative journalism and outspoken criticism of Pakistan's military establishment. In the months preceding his death, he faced multiple legal challenges and reported receiving threats, prompting him to leave Pakistan. After a brief stay in the United Arab Emirates, he travelled to Kenya, where he continued his journalistic work.
This journalist, along with another individual, had been in regular contact with Arshad after he was warned by an unidentified official to leave the United Arab Emirates due to an immediate threat to his life. Arshad was eager to share his information but was wary of using traditional digital or postal services for fear of interception. He expressed a strong desire to reach the UK, and efforts were being made to secure his safe passage and legal representation. These efforts were ultimately thwarted when the Home Office informed him that he could only obtain a travel visa through the embassy in Pakistan, a location where he faced a serious and credible threat to his life. Despite appeals highlighting this danger, the Home Office maintained that this was the only acceptable process, and no alternative arrangement was made to issue the visa from the embassy in Kenya.
Arshad had no prior connection with the individuals operating a private training facility in Kenya who offered him a safe house and security. He was encouraged to go there based on the advice of a third-party unknown to us. Apart from limited conversations where he provided a general overview of the information he intended to expose, Arshad never shared tangible evidence, such as documents or digital files. He stated that he was in possession of digital evidence, but to date, no official agency has reported locating it.
In the official report by the two-member investigation committee, the individuals who supposedly offered Arshad safety were identified as potentially being linked to national intelligence services. Additionally, the female member of the group, a foreign national, was noted as having potential connections to the CIA. These claims remain unproven, and any investigation into these observations has not been disclosed publicly.
On the evening Arshad was fatally shot, one of the three individuals responsible for his safety was driving the vehicle in which he was traveling. This individual initially supported the police's claim that the vehicle had failed to stop, because he believed they about to be robbed, and that Arshad was fatally shot while it was in motion.
However, forensic evidence later confirmed beyond any doubt that the vehicle was stationary at the time of the shooting. The evidence revealed that the fatal shots to Arshad were fired either through the front passenger seat from inside the vehicle or from an open door.
In Pakistan, Sharif's mother accused senior intelligence officers, including then-Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa and Inter-Services Intelligence head Nadeem Anjum, of orchestrating her son's "targeted, premeditated, planned and calculated murder."
She alleged that Sharif's previous working relationship with the military collapsed following his critical reporting on the ousting of Prime Minister Imran Khan. Despite these serious allegations, neither the federal government nor the judiciary has initiated formal proceedings based on her claims.
The Kenyan Independent Police Oversight Authority announced an investigation into Sharif's death. In July 2024, the Kajiado County High Court ruled that the police had acted unlawfully in the shooting.
As of December 10, 2024, and despite these findings and directives, no police officers or other individuals have been formally charged in connection with Sharif's death. The lack of prosecutions has drawn international condemnation, with rights groups criticising both Kenyan and Pakistani authorities for their handling of the investigation.
Arshad Sharif's death underscores the perils faced by journalists who challenge powerful institutions. His commitment to investigative journalism and the pursuit of truth remains a significant part of his legacy.
The death of Arshad Sharif underscores the dangers faced by journalists who challenge powerful institutions and raises critical questions about accountability and press freedom in both Kenya and Pakistan.
Arshad was one of 67 journalist killed in 2022.
