By Mashal Khan

ISLAMABAD: Kenya police brutally shot dead a prominent Pakistani journalist and TV anchor Arshad Sharif on Sunday night has raised several questions over the initial police statement, who called the tragic incident as “mistaken identity”.

In its initial report, Police admitted that they had shot dead Sharif along the Nairobi-Magadi highway as his driver allegedly breached a roadblock that had been set up to check on motor vehicles using the route, local daily the Star reported.

Later, the police changed its statement and said they blocked the road with a small stones and Sharif’s driver decided to pass them.

"It was then they heard gunshots towards their vehicle directed from the front and rear. They did not stop and proceeded with the journey.”

"Upon scrutiny of the said motor vehicle,  it had a bullet hole on the left side of the windscreen on the side the deceased was sitting, two bullet holes on the rear left back screen, one bullet hole on the rear right door, four holes right side of the boot and one front right tyre that had been deplated. The said Pakistan nationals claim that they are developers and reside in Nairobi. Scene was documented and the body taken to Chiromo mortuary awaiting postmortem."

Police have since said that the case was a matter of "mistaken identity".

However, a local media outlet Citizen Digital reported that Many kilometers away, Khurram and Arshad Sharif were driving a totally different car along the Kuenia-Kamukuru rough road in Magadi, Kajiado when the gruesome incident happened.

The incident apparently looked as targeting killing as another media outlet The East African citing an unnamed official told the Nation on condition of anonymity that "the truth might be in what has not been documented" in the police report. 

Sharif’s lawyer Shoaib Razaq said he was in Dubai and claimed that he left UAE after Pakistani authorities request the Gulf country to deport him to Islamabad.

Pakistani authorities already registered cases against him as he was a critic of the alleged regime change operation when former PM Imran Khan was ousted from power in April this year.  

Journalists in Pakistan who are critics of the current PDM government are facing brutal actions including arrest and torture. 

“Let there be no confusion, Arshad Sharif was murdered by a sniper bullet to his head. It was not an accident as is now being floated. He had told me head money had been put on his life so he had to leave Pak. Later he said he had to leave Dubai bec they had traced him there too,” Shireen Mazari, former Human Rights Minister of Pakistan said. 

Sharif was working on an explosive investigative documentary on corruption, titled as "Behind Closed Doors". The documentary featured  Kenyan investigative reporter John-Allan Namu.

“He went to Kenya to sign an agreement with that Kenyan journalist as Mafia was trying to block the documentary,” former Pakistan interior minister Sheikh Rashid told reporters in Islamabad. 

John-Allan while talking about the documentary said he was working with Michael Oswald and Murtaza Mehdi.

“Guys, here's the trailer to "Behind closed doors". It was directed by Michael Oswald and Murtaza Mehdi. All this information has been out for over a week,” he tweeted.

Later Murtaza Mehdi also shared a tweet on behalf of the “Behind closed doors” and confirmed that Sharif was part of the documentary.

“We are very saddened by the unexpected death of fearless journalist #ArshadSharif. He was part of our upcoming doc “Behind Closed Doors”. Deepest condolences to his family and to the entire journalism fraternity,”  Behind Closed Doors tweeted. 

• Sharif dead body found 78 km away

According to a local Kenya journalist, the case is suspected as Sharif body was found 78 kilometers away from the incident spot.

“Body of slain renowned Investigative journalist #ArshadSharif has been found at Kenya's Chiromo Mortuary, 78 Kilometres from where Police say shooting happened. Body appears to have two gunshot wounds. Pakistan Embassy officials on site,” a local journalist Brian Obuya tweeted. 

Another Kenya journalist Eliud Kinii also questioned over the police action if there was no fire against them

“I'd think the basic thing to do is immobilise the vehicle. Again why shoot while there was no fire against them? Waiting for the official police statement, he tweeted.

Most people in Pakistan believed that Kenya police murdered Sharif in a targeted killing but the exit situation will clear after an independent investigation. 

Reaction in Pakistan 

Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif spoke with Kenya President and demanded for fair & transparent investigation into shocking incident

"Just had a telephonic call with Kenyan President William Ruto about the tragic death of Arshad Sharif in Kenya . I requested him to ensure fair & transparent investigation into shocking incident. He promised all-out help including fast-tracking the process of return of the body to Pakistan," the prime minister wrote on Twitter.

Former Prime Minister Imran Khan says he “Shocked at the brutal murder of Arshad Sharif who paid the ultimate price for speaking the truth - his life.”

 “He had to leave the country & be in hiding abroad but he continued to speak the truth on social media, exposing the powerful. Today the entire nation mourns his death,” Khan tweeted.

Khan demanded a proper judicial investigation must be instituted to examine his own statements plus evidence that other sources have. 

“We have descended into a state of brutality, unknown in civilised society, indulged in by the powerful against those who dare to criticise & expose wrongdoings.”

Khan always praised Sharif for his true and independent journalism despite facing threats.

“Arshad Sharif's murder has sent shockwaves across Pak. It has highlighted an ongoing targeting of anyone who dares to criticise or question those holding power.When will our senior Judiciary act to ensure our citizens fundamental rights enshrined in the Constitution are protected

“& safeguarded against excesses by the State & govt. We have seen citizens, politicians, journalists & human rights defenders intimidated,arrested, charged with terrorism & incitement to mutiny, tortured.We see fake cases, misuse of power by different executive branches expanding.

“We saw a foreign abetted regime change conspiracy taking place sending Pak into chaos. But senior Judiciary continues to remain aloof. When will the Judiciary move to act against State institutions that are defying all laws & violating the Constitution? It is high time they did,” Khan wrote on twitter