Tag: arshad sharif

  • ‘Do khaas, teen saanp’: Vawda points fingers within PTI in Arshad Sharif’s murder

    ‘Do khaas, teen saanp’: Vawda points fingers within PTI in Arshad Sharif’s murder

    Faisal Vawda, ex-member of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has made the revelation that people within his former party could be involved in the murder of renowned journalist Arshad Sharif in Kenya.

    On Samaa News’ programme “Nadeem Malik Live” which aired on Monday, Vawda said, “The assassination was planned in Pakistan by those who could benefit from it,” adding that the murder better suits “three snakes and two VIPs”.

    He said that the “three snakes” belong to the PTI, however, the other two VIPs are non-political and are trusted by Imran Khan. He claimed that he himself had warned Khan several times about them.

    About Arshad Sharif, who was killed on October 23 by two gunshot wounds, the former PTI member said, “He had no issue in coming back to Pakistan”.

    When asked if the establishment supported PTI in the 2018 elections, he said, “If anyone says that the establishment had no role in elections, it will be a lie.”

    He reiterated that the long march which his former party is carrying out right now, would be a bloody march and PTI is heading right toward it.

    On October 26, Vawda dismissed the version of the Kenyan police about Arshad being killed in a case of “mistaken identity”.

    Vawda had made claims that the party’s long march would “witness bloodshed, death, and funerals”. The same day, the PTI suspended Vawda and said that he would not be allowed to hold any party office or represent the party in the media as he had “grossly violated discipline by giving statements against party policies and guidelines”.

    Last week, PTI Chairman Imran Khan announced that Vawda’s membership stands terminated for failing to respond to the show-cause notice issued to him on October 26.

  • Khan announces establishing journalism university in Arshad Sharif’s name

    Khan announces establishing journalism university in Arshad Sharif’s name

    Imran Khan, the Chairman of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has announced the establishment of a journalism university in Punjab in the name of slain journalist Arshad Sharif.

    Addressing participants in his long march in Lahore, Khan announced the plan of establishing the university. He said that the name of the university will be “Arshad Sharif Shaheed University of Journalism”.

    The PTI has also dedicated its long march to Arshad Sharif and the media fraternity.

    The party continued paying tribute to Arshad Sharif by displaying a banner in Lahore which read: “Pakistani ki Haqeeqi Azadi ka shaheed (The martyr of Pakistan’s true freedom).”

    Arshad Sharif, a renowned journalist and television anchor, was shot dead by Kenyan police near Nairobi on October 23, Khan has claimed that Arshad was a victim of a targeted killing. The former Prime Minister has said that he himself warned the newsman that his life was under threat.

    Khan further said Arshad Sharif was the journalist he respected the most, using the term “martyred” for the late television host.

  • ‘Cipher, Arshad Sharif, Khan’s hidden meetings with COAS’: History’s first joint DG ISI and Army press conference

    ‘Cipher, Arshad Sharif, Khan’s hidden meetings with COAS’: History’s first joint DG ISI and Army press conference

    In a historic press conference held on Thursday, the Director General (DG) Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), Lieutenant General Nadeem Anjum addressed media for the first time, accompanied by the DG of Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) DG Major General Babar Iftikhar. The two top ranking officers of the armed services spoke about journalist Arshad Sharif’s killing and former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s confrontational narrative against the military, his hidden meetings with Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa, foreign conspiracy, Washington cipher as well as a host of other related topics.

    DG ISPR says Imran Khan’s cipher and US regime change narrative is a complete pack of lies

    Talking about the cipher, General Iftikhar said that the COAS had discussed the contents of the document with Imran on March 11 where the then-Prime Minister had dismissed it as, “not a big deal”.

    “It was surprising for us when on March 27 a piece of paper was waved and an attempt was made to build a narrative that was far from reality,” the DG said, referring to Imran Khan’s rally where he first unveiled the ‘conspiracy’ crafted by America to oust his government.

    General Iftikhar then said that several facts had come to light regarding the cypher revealing the “baseless and unfounded” narrative surrounding it. The ISPR informed the National Security Committee that no proof was found regarding the conspiracy against the PTI government, he said, adding that the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) also did not find any evidence of the conspiracy.

    “This is all part of the record. We wanted to bring this to the public. And we left the decision to the-then government,” he stated.

    “The word neutral and apolitical was turned into an abuse”

    Gen Iftikhar stated that it was being expected that the army would intervene in domestic politics. “The words neutral and apolitical were turned into an abuse words. Despite this baseless narrative, the army chief and the institution showed restraint and we tried our level best that politicians sit together to resolve their issues.”

    ARY News played the role of a spin doctor 

    “In this media trial, ARY News played the role of a spin doctor in targeting the army and promoting a false narrative […] the NSC meeting was presented in the wrong context,” said Gen Iftikhar. He noted that Arshad Sharif made strong comments about the army during this time but added that “We did not have any negative sentiments about him and we don’t have such feelings now”.

    At this time, Sharif and other journalists were fed a particular narrative and an attempt was made to defame Pakistan and the country’s institutions across the world, he revealed.

    ‘Salman Iqbal should be brought back’

    The DG ISPR went on to say that the name of the ARY CEO Salman Iqbal was surfacing again and again in the incident that ended in Arshad Sharif’s killing. “He should be brought back to Pakistan and made part of the probe,” the DG said without mincing his words.

    He said that after Sharif’s death, people had started pointing fingers at the army. “It has to be determined who exactly benefitted from his killing.,” General Iftikhar said, asking the large number of journalists gathered there to unearth facts and bring them to life. “We have to wait for the report from the inquiry commission. Until the report is released, it is not appropriate to make allegations,” he cautioned.

    Details of Arshad Sharif’s departure

    Offering more details of the circumstances of Arshad Shrif’s departure from Pakistan, Babr Iftikhar said that on August 8 2022,  ARY News aired Shehbaz Gill’s controversial statements about the army’s rank and file. The statement was roundly condemned, and Gill, the Chief of Staff for Imran Khan, was arrested a day later.

    He said that when the head of ARY News, Ammad Yousaf,  was arrested in August, it emerged that CEO Salman Iqbal had asked the former to send Sharif abroad as soon as possible.

    The DG ISPR stated that a manager in the ARY Group booked a ticket for Sharif for Dubai, according to which he was supposed to be back on September 9.

    “On Aug 10, he left Peshawar airport thorough PK-637 for Dubai. He was provided complete protocol by the KP government,” he said, adding that the late journalist was escorted by KP officers to the airport.” The institutions never tried to stop Arshad Sharif, if the government wanted to stop him they would have done it through FIA.

    Stating that Arshad remained in the UAE until he had a valid visa, the DG said that the late journalist left for Kenya when his visa for Dubai expired. He said that no one “forced” Sharif to leave Dubai at a government level and questioned who exactly forced him to leave. He also questioned who processed the journalist’s documents in the UAE, who arranged his accommodations, who forced him to not return to Pakistan and who assured him that he was safe in Kenya.

    He also questioned who was in contact with Sharif from Pakistan and who was hosting him in Kenya. “Kenyan police accepted their mistake and it has to be examined whether this is a case of mistaken identity or one of targeted killing. There are several questions that have to be answered,” he said, calling for a “transparent and fair probe”.

    Therefore, the government has been requested to form a high-level inquiry commission, he explained.

    “If you see him as a traitor, then why do you meet him through the back door?”: DG ISI

    The ISI chief also made an appearance in today’s press conference — the first time a spy chief has done so in Pakistan’s history.

    Talking about the former premier Imran, the ISI chief said that while citizens had the right to their opinion, he asked why had the Chairman of the PTI praise dthe COAS in the past.

    Referring to Imran Khan’s continued thinly veiled references directed at General Bajwa, the spy chief asked, “If you see him as a traitor, then why do you meet him through the back door? […] Don’t meet him quietly at night through the back door and express your unconstitutional wishes but call him a traitor in broad daylight. That’s a big contradiction between your words and your actions.”

    Lt Gen Anjum also made the revelation that in March, Gen Bajwa was given a “lucrative offer” for an extension in his tenure. “The offer was made in front of me. He rejected it because he wanted the institution to move forward from a controversial role to a constitutional role.”

    I did not make an appearance for personal reasons: DG ISI

    Explaining his unprecedented presence before the media, General Nadeem Anjum offered an explanation. “I would often see that lies [were being perpetuated] and the youth was accepting it. I did not make an appearance for personal reasons. I saw the way the country and institutions were facing threats due to lies which is why I broke my silence,” he said.

    “There were campaigns against me in March on social media. I got a call from the agency that a campaign was underway against me. I told them get in touch when the retweets exceed eight thousand million. Before that, I don’t care about myself,” the DG ISI explained.

    He said that he would have addressed the media earlier if it was for personal reasons. “Those sacrificing their lives should not have to face these lies. Hence, remaining silent was morally unacceptable to me,” he firmly stated.

  • ‘Khan is using tragic killing of Arshad Sharif for petty politics’: PM Shehbaz

    ‘Khan is using tragic killing of Arshad Sharif for petty politics’: PM Shehbaz

    Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif—who is currently in Saudi Arabia—has said that Imran Khan, Chairman of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), is using the tragic killing of senior journalist Arshad Sharif for “petty politics”.

    His statement has come after Khan’s comments about Sharif’s death, terming it “a targeted killing”.

    Taking to Twitter, the Premier said: “Imran Niazi is playing a dangerous game. He is using the tragic killing of Arshad Sharif for petty politics and going to the extent of casting aspersions on state institutions.”

    PM Shehbaz further said that the PTI chief should wait for the findings of the Judicial Commission which was constituted to probe the death of the slain journalist.

    ‘Mujhe pata hai target killing ki gayi hai’: Imran Khan on Arshad Sharif’s death

    On October 25, Khan claimed that the killing of journalist and anchorperson Arshad Sharif was a targeted killing, stressing that he himself warned the newsman that his life was under threat.

    Addressing an Insaf Lawyers Forum (ILF) convention in Peshawar, Khan said, “Jo marzi log kahein, mujhe pata hai target killing ki gayi hai” (Whatever people say, I know it was target killing), adding that “Arshad knew that his life was in danger, he was repeatedly warned. I told him too but despite that, he didnt step back even once or get scared,” he said in the speech.

    During the convention, Khan further said Arshad Sharif was the journalist he respected the most, using the term “martyred” for the late television host.

    Imran Khan heaped laurels on the slain journalist, calling him brave and pointing out that he put his life in danger but stayed on the path of justice “People threatened him, offered him money but he didnt change his stance,” Imran Khan revealed.

    “I told him to leave the country, but he did not listen,” Khan shared.

    “Sharif also criticised me, when he used to think I was wrong”, the PTI chief said.

    “Then I received information that they were about to kill him. They invaded his home and scared him in front of his family just so that he doesn’t speak the truth,” the former premier claimed.

    Imran said Sharif left the country but was being called back when his visa in the UAE was about to expire. “Not because he committed a crime but just so he doesn’t speak the truth. And they wanted to do the same with him what they did with Azam Swati, Shahbaz Gill and Jameel Farooqui,” Imran added.

    He repeatedly urged the lawyers’ community at the convention to take a stand. “You people have more responsibility because you know justice and the role of law more than the citizens.”

    “I will fight these cruel people till my last breath”, he said, adding that Allah has not given us the choice of being neutral.

    On Monday, Khan tweeted: “Arshad Sharif’s murder has sent shockwaves across Pakistan. It has highlighted an ongoing targeting of anyone who dares to criticise or question those holding power. When will our senior Judiciary act to ensure our citizens’ fundamental rights enshrined in the Constitution are protected”.

    On October 23, Arshad Sharif was killed in Kenya in a reported shooting incident by the country’s police.

  • Director FIA, Deputy Director Intelligence Bureau to go to Kenya for Arshad Sharif’s murder investigation

    Director FIA, Deputy Director Intelligence Bureau to go to Kenya for Arshad Sharif’s murder investigation

    The Ministry of Interior has established an inquiry team to look into the killing of prominent journalist Arshad Sharif.

    In this context, the government has released a notification.

     Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) Director Athar Waheed, Deputy Director-General IB Omar Shahid Hamid are part of the probe team.

    Autopsy of Arshad Sharif:

    An autopsy of slain journalist Arshad Sharif will be carried out in Pakistan.

    According to Sharif’s family, police and the federal capital’s administration will help in conducting the postmortem procedure with a team of three doctors. The late journalist’s mother has reportedly insisted that a renowned surgeon be present during the hospital autopsy.

    The senior journalist’s remains will be transported to Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences, the largest government hospital in the capital. The body has been kept in the Quaid-e-Azam International Hospital’s mortuary for now.

    In the early hours of Wednesday, a Qatar Airways jet carrying his body landed in Islamabad. The coffin containing his mortal remains was handed over to his family at the airport in Islamabad.

    “My Arshad is back, but in [a] coffin,” his wife Javeria Siddique said on Twitter

    In the early hours of Wednesday, a Qatar Airways jet carrying his body landed in Islamabad. His body was handed over to his family at the airport in Islamabad.

  • Shahzeb Khanzada calls out Maryam Nawaz for her ‘fascist’ tweet, says she needs to apologise

    Shahzeb Khanzada calls out Maryam Nawaz for her ‘fascist’ tweet, says she needs to apologise

    Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Vice President Maryam Nawaz’s insensitive tweet about senior journalist Arshad Sharif made headlines with people from both sides of the political divide condemning the content.

    “I don’t feel good re-tweeting this but this is a lesson for mankind that we must all imbibe,” the PML-N leader wrote in a tweet along with a photo of Arshad Sharif’s coffin at the airport.

    The original tweet, retweeted by Maryam, claimed that the anchorperson used to say Nawaz Sharif had sent her late mother back home in a parcel, adding that Arshad Sharif used to make fun of other people’s death and now his time had come.

    https://twitter.com/MaryamNSharif/status/1584836576080990208?s=20&t=8K-rN6nu7wepgsk3p-A1fw

    Twitter was ablaze with not just the public but many renowned journalists condemning the act by the PML-N leader.

    After several hours, Maryam deleted her tweet and apologised on Twitter.

    Her tweet said, “My tweet was not aimed at mocking someone but about learning our lessons from the past. I am undoing the tweet and apologise for the hurt it may have caused to the aggrieved which never was my intention. May no one ever have to go through this pain. Prayers for the bereaved family.”

    Geo News’ anchorperson Shahzeb Khanzada was one of those who condemned the tweet and said that it is full of vengefulness and fascism.

    He further called out the PML-N leader and said that she needs to delete the tweet and apologise because she has hurt Arshad’s family who is still waiting for the arrival of his body.

    Senior journalist Hamid Mir also corrected Maryam Nawaz by posting an old tweet of Arshad’s in which the slain journalist had wished Kulsoom Nawaz recovery when she was ill.

  • ‘Investigation should be held on why Arshad Sharif had to leave Pakistan’: DG ISPR

    ‘Investigation should be held on why Arshad Sharif had to leave Pakistan’: DG ISPR

    Director-General of the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), Major General Babar Iftikhar, has said that the military has requested the federal government to conduct a “high-level investigation” into the killing of senior journalist Arshad Sharif in Kenya.

    On October 23, Sharif was shot dead near Nairobi, Kenya, by the local police. The local law enforcing authorities have termed the killing a case of ‘mistaken identity’.

    While talking to 24 News, DG ISPR said, “We have requested the government to hold a high-level investigation so that all these speculations can be put to rest.”

    Gen Iftikhar stressed that it is important to find out why the journalist left Pakistan, where did he live all this time, and what circumstances led to this incident.

    “Investigation should be held that why Arshad Sharif had to leave Pakistan,” the DG ISPR said while adding that we have to put an end to the speculations.

    He regretted that people are accusing institutions, stressing that the military has also requested the government “to take legal action against all these people who are leveling allegations without any evidence”.

    “This is why it is most upsetting that his death is being used for baseless conversations and fingers are being raised on it. We just have to see who is using this unfortunate incident, who is the beneficiary of this thing,”‘ General Iftikhar pointed out.

    Describing Arshad Sharif as a “very professional man”, the General observed that everyone is sad about his tragic death.

    Earlier in the day, General Headquarters (GHQ) asked the government to constitute a high-level panel to look into the tragic circumstances of Arshad’s death.

  • PM decides to form judicial commision to investigate the Arshad Sharif killing

    Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has decided to form a judicial commission to probe the death of senior journalist Arshad Sharif. The judicial commission will be headed by a high court judge, Federal Information Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb confirmed on Tuesday.

    “The judicial panel can also seek assistance from civil society and media in this regard,” she said.

    The government is required to keep journalist organisations on board while conducting an investigation by the Islamabad High Court (IHC). Shoaib Razzaq had filed a petition in IHC, requesting the court that a judicial commission must be formed to probe the death of Sharif.

    According to reports, local police in Kenya shot and killed Sharif on Sunday night. A police statement afterwards expressed “regrets on the tragic occurrence” and said an investigation was ongoing.

  • US urges Kenya to investigate Arshad Sharif’s killing

    US urges Kenya to investigate Arshad Sharif’s killing

    On Tuesday, the United States of America urged Kenya to conduct an open investigation into the killing of Pakistani journalist and anchor person Arshad Sharif.

    “We’re deeply saddened by the death of Arshad Sharif,” said the US State Department spokesperson Ned Price.

    “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,” the spokesperson added.

    “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.”

    Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif on Monday urged Kenya to ensure fair and transparent investigations into the murder of senior Pakistani journalist Arshad Sharif.
    Taking to Twitter, the Premier said that he had made a telephone call to Kenyan President William Ruto about the killing.
    “I requested him to ensure fair & transparent investigation into the shocking incident,” he wrote on Twitter.

  • Case of mistaken identity or assassination? Kenyan media raises questions

    Case of mistaken identity or assassination? Kenyan media raises questions

    Kenyan media is raising question on the death of Pakistani Journalist Arshad Sharif.

    “Was it a case of mistaken identity or was it a case of assassination of a journalist known as a sharp critic of the Pakistani government?” a television news report broadcasted on a Kenyan news channel asked.

    The report states that on the night of October 23, Arshad Sharif, accompanied by his ‘brother’ Khurram Ahmed, left a farm owned by his friend.

    At Kamukuru Road, the car he was travelling was shot at. The police statement admitted that they had opened fire on the vehicle, stating that the incident was a case of mistaken identity.

    The Questions the report asked:

    Did the police attempt to stop the vehicle and did the occupants defy the orders?

    Why did the police open fire even though the occupants of the car were not shooting at that time?

    Why did not the police shoot at the tyres to immobilize the car instead of using lethal force?

    Why did the police aim at the passenger and not the driver?

    Why did the police open fire when they suspected that a child was on board the vehicle that was reportedly carjacked?

    If the vehicle was commonly seen on that road then what caused the mistaken identity?

    How did the police confuse KDG 200M and a KDG 700F number plates? What was the colour and model of the vehicle that was carjacked?

    Arshad Sharif died on Sunday night in Kenya in a reported shooting incident. He was killed after being hit by a bullet in the head as his car crossed a police blockade. Admitting to the killing, Kenyan police has called it an incident of ‘mistaken identity’.

    Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has called Kenya’s President  William Ruto and asked for a conclusive investigation into the incident.