Nairobi: A Pakistani journalist Arshad Sharif, has been killed in Kenya in a police shootout, his wife confirmed on Monday.
“I lost friend, husband and my favourite journalist @arsched today, as per police he was shot in Kenya.. Respect our privacy and in the name of breaking please don’t share our family pics, personal details and his last pictures from hospital. Remember us in our prayers,” Arshad’s wife Javeria Siddique tweeted.
A writer and TV news anchor, the 49-year-old Arshad was reportedly shot in his head on the outskirts of Nairobi, at a police roadblock.
Kenyan media has reported it was a case of mistaken identity.
Arsshad had left Pakistan for Dubai, as he feared there was a plot to assassinate him. But according to his acquaintances, Sharif came to know that he was being traced even in Dubai, and hence travelled to Kenya.
However, Pakistan’s High Commission in Kenya is still gathering information from the concerned authorities.
Pakistan’s high commissioner to Kenya and other officials identified Arshad’s body at Chiromo Funeral House in Nairobi, the Dawn reported.
Arshad, who was awarded the Pride of Performance by Pakistan President Arif Alvi in March 2019, had been working on an investigative documentary on corruption in his country, titled ‘Behind Closed Doors’.
Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif joined the country in expressing his sadness and shock at the ‘tragic’ death.
His predecessor Imran Khan praised Arshad’s pursuit of truth.
“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.” Imran tweeted.
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