The senior Pakistani journalist, news anchor, and writer, Arshad Shari, was allegedly shot dead today in Kenya.
His wife, Javeria Siddique, confirmed the news in a tweet:
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 pls don't share our family pics, personal details and his last pictures from hospital.
Remember us in ur prayers. pic.twitter.com/wP1BJxqP5e— Javeria Siddique (@javerias) October 24, 2022
She requested the media and other people for privacy for his family in this hard time.
Following the news, several Pakistani celebrities took to social media to pay their respects to the late journalist.
Arshad sharif hum sharminda hain 🙏🙏🙏
— Muneeb Butt (@muneeb_butt9) October 23, 2022
RIP Arshad sharif 💔
— Sajal Ali (@Iamsajalali) October 23, 2022
Rest in peace brother.#ArshadShareef
— Rohail Hyatt 🇵🇰 (@rohailhyatt) October 24, 2022
Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji'un!
Arshad Sharif, a voice of reason in all the ‘breaking news’ clutter. Balanced, fair and objective—just how journalists are expected to be. Journalism lost a great one. May Allah grant him higher place in Jannah! Aameen🙏🏽 pic.twitter.com/lhCqKhOb39
— Adnan Siddiqui (@adnanactor) October 24, 2022
Arshad Sharif! 😰
— Haroon Shahid (@Haroon_5hahid) October 24, 2022
Even former Prime Minister, Imran Khan, mourned his death and asked for a proper investigation into it.
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 Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) October 24, 2022
Sharif was a fierce critic of the government and the country’s establishment. He left Pakistan earlier this year after sedition cases were registered against him in different cities.
Kenyan Police Report
According to a Kenyan police report, Arshad Sharif was traveling with a man that they claim was his brother, Khurram Ahmed.
The police were tipped off about a stolen car outside an electrical shop. The owner of the car had left his son in the car. When he came back, he found that the car was missing and his son had been abducted. The police traced the car and when they found the car, they stated that the brothers did not stop the car.
They were fired at, and when the car was stopped, Sharif died from a gunshot wound to the head. According to the police report, the car was fired at nine times.
Their car rolled over and the driver was injured and taken to hospital. He later told police that he and his slain colleague were developers and were headed for a site in Magadi.
According to Arshad Sharif’s former employer, ARY News, “Police in Kenya have confirmed his death and have opened an investigation into the accident which likely involved a gun attack”.
