Kenyan Court Rules on Killing of Pakistani Journalist Arshad Sharif

The High Court of Kenya has issued a verdict in the case of Pakistani journalist Arshad Sharif’s killing, following a plea from his widow. The court has instructed the Kenyan government to take legal action against the responsible police officers for the incident. According to BBC, Justice Stella Mutoko of Kenya’s High Court declared the firing by Kenyan police officers on the senior journalist and anchorperson Arshad Sharif, in Nairobi on October 24, 2022, as a violation of human rights and unlawful.
Arshad Sharif’s Background
Arshad Sharif, aged 49, belonged to a military family. His father, Muhammad Sharif, was a commander in Pakistan Navy. Arshad was born in Karachi in 1973 and started his journalistic career in 1993. He was associated with English newspapers initially and later with various TV channels, gaining recognition especially for his program “Power Play” on ARY News. He won the Agahi Award in 2012.
His brother, Major Ashraf Sharif, served in the Pakistan Army. Tragically, in 2011, Ashraf Sharif passed away in a car accident in Rawalpindi soon after their father’s demise. President Arif Alvi honored Arshad Sharif with the Pride of Performance award in 2019.
Departure from Pakistan
Arshad Sharif made headlines recently when on August 13, he and other ARY News journalists faced charges filed by the police. These charges stemmed from a statement made by PTI leader Shehbaz Gill on the channel, alleging incitement against armed forces personnel. Following the filing of the case, Arshad Sharif left Pakistan, though other journalists remained in the country. Shortly after his departure, ARY News announced the termination of their 8-year association with him.
After leaving Pakistan in August, Arshad Sharif was seen in London. It remains unclear why he traveled to Nairobi, Kenya, where he tragically lost his life.
The court’s decision underscores the need for thorough investigation into Arshad Sharif’s killing and demands strict punitive action against those responsible for the gunfire incident. Justice Stella Mutoko emphasized that every individual has the right to life under the constitution and the law. The ruling also condemned the withholding of information about the firing incident as a violation of the right to information.