‘Why are these stones kept here?’ This was the last question of Arshad Sharif’s life while travelling on that desolate road covered with raw, rocky and dusty soil.
According to investigations so far, he was shot dead shortly after this question.
Pakistani journalist Arshad Sharif was killed in a shooting incident in Magadi, Kenya on the night of October 23. It has been almost two months since his death, but the information coming out as a result of the ongoing ‘targeted killing’ investigation in Pakistan and Kenya seems to be making the case more complicated and complicated.
A BBC team arrived in Nairobi to catch up on the progress of the investigation in Kenya and spoke to various characters involved in the case.
We have tried to understand the nature of inconsistencies and flaws in the investigations so far.
While the BBC team interviewed senior officials in Kenya, they also got access to documents from officers involved in the investigation of the case, employees of the firing range and farmhouse, and residents of the vicinity of the shooting site. I can gather progress information.
Before leaving for Nairobi, I met Arshad Sharif’s family in November and tried to understand where his family stands today after the incident.
I have not been able to mentally accept that Arshad is not in this world. Like he sometimes went to Swat, and sometimes he went to Waziristan. Even today I tell myself that he has gone somewhere and will be back soon.
Arshad Sharif’s mother Rifat Ara Alvi was shocked while telling this. He is now almost 70 years old and only once in the several hours of the meeting did I see tears in his eyes when he probably realized that his son would never come back.
Arshad Sharif’s mother repeatedly demands to bring her son’s killers to light. They are furious and don’t hesitate to name anyone.
What else do I have now? Should we push women out? I have no hope for justice in this country.
Arshad Sharif was adamant about keeping his private life separate from social and mainstream media and that is why when I met his mother Rafat Ara Alvi and wife Samia Arshad for the first time, they talked for hours off-camera along with other family members. preferred to do
Pictures, medals and shields of Arshad Sharif, his brother Major Ashraf Sharif and his father who served in the Pakistan Navy are displayed on the walls of the drawing room and lounge in his home. Apart from this, the family has several photo albums of Arshad Sharif with his children on all occasions and festivals, and dozens of photos of his mother cleaning Jimmy Guard.
He used to take pictures and collect memories at every opportunity. Arshad used to invite friends every week, and we women used to prepare food but we never met his friends.
Arshad Sharif’s first wife Samia Arshad was present here along with her children. He said that Arshad Sharif was receiving threats for a long time. The series of threats escalated to such an extent that they had to switch off their phones for some time.
“Threats were being received for a long time and we were also cautious. But it was not expected that anyone can go to this extent. People used to advise him to leave the program for now as he was receiving threats. It was also threatened that your program will be closed. Then came a time when the phone had to be turned off. They may know that their calls are being taped and tracked, so switch off their mobile phones for some time so that this may stop. But it didn’t happen.
According to his mother, Arshad Sharif wrote letters to everyone that his life was in danger. But no one listened to him. No one protected him. I don’t know what their intention was but now everyone is cashing in on this incident. My question is, who were they on whose request dozens of FIRs were registered against Arshad? These people are the ones who wanted to eliminate Arshad.
His mother’s reference is to the FIRs registered against journalist Arshad Sharif in various cities before he left Pakistan. His program was discontinued until his private news channel ARY fired him.
Earlier, Arshad Sharif was considered quite close to the establishment. After the no-confidence motion against Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Chairman Imran Khan was successful this year, Arshad Sharif began criticizing the establishment and his alleged role in politics. When the narrative war started between the military leadership and Imran Khan, Arshad Sharif stood by Imran Khan.
Arshad Sharif started a series of vlogs on YouTube when his show closed and ARY announced their separation. In his Vlogs, he used to speak openly against the current government and former Army Chief General Retired Qamar Javed Bajwa.
It was claimed during the fact-finding report and DGISI’s press briefing that after registering FIRs against Arshad Sharif, he was advised to leave Pakistan and arrangements were made by ARY News while he was The provincial government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa assisted in bringing them to Peshawar Airport to go out of the country.
Earlier, a threat letter was issued by the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government expressing the fear that journalist Arshad Sharif may be killed.