By Mashal Khan 

ISLAMABAD: World strongly reacted and condemned the brutal killing of prominent Pakistani journalists Arshad Sharif in Kenya by local police in apparent “targeted killing”.

The US State Department spokesman, Ned PRICE expressed his condolences Arshad’s colleagues and his family and to all those who knew him, who knew his work. 

“We’re deeply saddened by the death of Arshad Sharif. We encourage a full investigation by the Government of Kenya into his death. It’s not entirely clear that we know all the circumstances at this point regarding what led to his death, but we do urge a full investigation,” he said.

Responding to a question that why the US government rejected to renew his visa despite he was facing death threats , he said “It’s difficult for me to speak with any specificity regarding what we could do with a particular individual, but we have programs around the world in the first instance to bolster protections for those who are exercising what is another universal right, the right to freedom of expression, the right to information. And it’s clear through his work that Arshad Sharif was dedicated to that fundamental right of freedom of expression – took him around the world. His work was known around the world.”

“USAID has a number of programs to work with governments around the world to bolster those rights, to bolster independent media. We have taken action. The department and others have taken action when we are aware of efforts on the part of governments around the world to intimidate, to harass, to otherwise seek to silence the voices of those who are so committed to that freedom of expression,” Ned said.

In a statement, the Committee to Protect Journalists demanded for a swift and transparent investigation by authorities into his death.

“We are saddened by the tragic death of Pakistani journalist Arshad Sharif in Kenya,” said Beh Lih Yi, CPJ’s Asia program coordinator, in Frankfurt, Germany. 

“CPJ is seeking further details about the incident. There must be a swift and transparent investigation by authorities into his death, and authorities must release the full details as soon as possible.