Tag: arshad sharif

  • ‘A great loss to journalism’: Politicians and journalists extend condolences on the demise of Arshad Sharif

    ‘A great loss to journalism’: Politicians and journalists extend condolences on the demise of Arshad Sharif

    The killing of senior journalist Arshad Sharif late Sunday night has sent shockwaves across the country. Kenyan authorities have confirmed that the renowned television anchor was killed by local police, in what they have said was a case of mistaken identity.

    According to reports, the journalist left Pakistan in August for Dubai. It is unclear when did he go to Kenya.

    Following the tragic news, politicians, journalists extended condolences and expressed shock at the sudden demise of the leading newsman.

    Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif wrote in a tweet, “I am deeply saddened by the shocking news of journalist Arshad Sharif’s tragic death. May Allah SWT grant him a place in Heaven. My deep condolences and prayers for the bereaved family.”

    President Dr Arif Alvi termed Arshad’s death as “A great loss to journalism and Pakistan”. In a tweet, he extended his condolences on the journalist’s death.

    Former Prime Minister and Chairman of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Imran Khan, too turned to Twitter to express his shock, stating that that today the entire nation mourns Arshad Sharif’s death. He said, “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.”

    Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo spoke to the media in London. About Arshad’s death, he said, “I am really saddened by the news”.

    Foreign Minister (FM) Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari condemned the killing and extended his deepest condolences to “his family and loved ones”.

    Former Human Rights Minister Shireen Mazari shared a Quranic verse through her Twitter account.

    More politicians and senior journalists including Arshad’s colleagues expressed their shock on Twitter when the news broke out in the early hours of Monday.

  • Celebrities react to journalist Arshad Sharif’s demise

    Celebrities react to journalist Arshad Sharif’s demise

    Journalist Arshad Sharif died in Kenya after being shot, according to his wife Javeria Siddique.

    She wrote, “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.”

    A-list celebrities took to their social media handles to express grief and shock on Arshad’s demise.

    Actors like Sajal Aly, Muneeb Butt and Mariyam Nafees shared their thoughts on the unfortunate incident.

    Kenyan police report:

    According to a Kenyan police report, Arshad was traveling with a man they claim was his brother Khurram Ahmed. The police was 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 state that Arshad and Khurram Ahmed did not stop the car. They were fired upon and when the car was stopped, Sharif had died from a gun shot wound to the head. According to the police report, the car was fired upon nine times.

    According to Arshad’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.”

    He leaves behind five children. The family has asked the media and the general public to refrain from making assumptions and disseminating rumours regarding Arshad Sharif’s death.

    According The Star, a credible news outlet and one of the biggest in Kenya “Arshad Sharif was shot in the head and killed by police after he and his driver allegedly breached a roadblock that had been set up to check on motor vehicles using the route.”

    “They were driving from Magadi town to Nairobi when they were flagged down at a roadblock being manned by a group of police officers, police said.”

    “According to police, at the roadblock, there was a call for police to intercept a car similar to the one they were driving following a carjacking incident in Pangani area, Nairobi where a child was taken hostage.”

    “And a few minutes later, Sharif’s car emerged at the roadblock and they were stopped and asked to identify themselves,” reads the news report.

    “They allegedly failed to stop and drove past the roadblock.”

    “This prompted a brief chase and shooting that left Sharif dead. Their car rolled and his driver was injured and taken to hospital.”

    “He later told police he and his slain colleague were developers and were headed for a site in Magadi.”

  • Arshad Sharif’s former employer ARY News says ‘he was martyred in a gun attack’

    Arshad Sharif’s former employer ARY News says ‘he was martyred in a gun attack’

    Journalist Arshad Sharif died in Kenya after being shot, according to his wife Javeria Siddique.

    She wrote, “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.”

    Kenyan police report:

    According to a Kenyan police report, Arshad was traveling with a man they claim was his brother Khurram Ahmed. The police was 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 state that Arshad and Khurram Ahmed did not stop the car. They were fired upon and when the car was stopped, Sharif had died from a gun shot wound to the head. According to the police report, the car was fired upon nine times.

    According to Arshad’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.”

    He leaves behind five children. The family has asked the media and the general public to refrain from making assumptions and disseminating rumours regarding Arshad Sharif’s death.

    According The Star, a credible news outlet and one of the biggest in Kenya “Arshad Sharif was shot in the head and killed by police after he and his driver allegedly breached a roadblock that had been set up to check on motor vehicles using the route.”

    “They were driving from Magadi town to Nairobi when they were flagged down at a roadblock being manned by a group of police officers, police said.”

    “According to police, at the roadblock, there was a call for police to intercept a car similar to the one they were driving following a carjacking incident in Pangani area, Nairobi where a child was taken hostage.”

    “And a few minutes later, Sharif’s car emerged at the roadblock and they were stopped and asked to identify themselves,” reads the news report.

    “They allegedly failed to stop and drove past the roadblock.”

    “This prompted a brief chase and shooting that left Sharif dead. Their car rolled and his driver was injured and taken to hospital.”

    “He later told police he and his slain colleague were developers and were headed for a site in Magadi.”

    Condolences poured in from politicians after Arshad’s death.

    Imran Khan

    Former Prime Minister (PM) and Chairman Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) ImranKhan has also expressed his grief over the death of senior journalist Arshad Sharif.

    “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,” he wrote in a tweet.

    The former PM in his tweet demanded a “proper judicial investigation”.

    “A proper judicial investigation must be instituted to examine his own statements plus evidence that other sources have. We have descended into a state of brutality, unknown in civilised society, indulged in by the powerful against those who dare to criticise & expose wrongdoings,” Khan added in his tweet.

    “My prayers and condolences go to his grief stricken family.”

    ISPR

    The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) has expressed grief over the tragic death of the senior journalist.

    “May Allah grant patience to the family members of Arshad Sharif in this hour of sorrow,” the ISPR statement added.

    President Dr Arif Alvi and Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif have expressed their grief.

  • ARY News taken off air, CEO, journalists booked, head of news arrested

    ARY News taken off air, CEO, journalists booked, head of news arrested

    Karachi police have registered a First Information Report (FIR) against ARY Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Salman Iqbal in connection with the controversial remarks made by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Dr Shahbaz Gill during a news transmission.

    The police have also arrested Ammad Yousuf, the head of news and Senior Executive Vice President of ARY News.

    The FIR said that a clip of a news bulletin, aired on August 8 by ARY News, had gone viral on social media, in which Gill had made “hateful remarks” against the Pakistan Army. Producer Adeel Raja, Yousaf, and anchorpersons Arshad Sharif and Khawar Ghumman have also been nominated in the case registered on August 8.

    Meanwhile, ARY News reported that Yousaf was arrested in Karachi late on Tuesday night (August 9). Yousaf was arrested without a warrant from his residence located in Karachi’s DHA.

    “Police officers along with plain-clothed persons forcibly entered the house of Ammad Yousaf. The raiding team diverted the CCTV cameras of Yousaf’s house, and jumped into the house from the top of the main entrance,” reported ARY News.

    Arshad Sharif flies to Dubai

    After Yousaf got arrested, anchorperson Arshad Sharif left the country after his name was nominated in the FIR.

    ARY News distances itself from Shahbaz Gill’s statement about army

    ARY News and Salman Iqbal distanced themselves from Gill’s statement.

    In a statement read out by ARY’s senior anchorperson Kashif Abbasi on his show, ‘Off the Record’, said that Salman Iqbal and the management condemns Shahbaz Gill’s statement.

    Pemra issues show-cause notice to ARY News for airing ‘hateful, seditious’ content against govt

    The Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) on Monday issued a show-cause notice to ARY News for airing what it called “false, hateful and seditious” content based on “absolute disinformation with a clear and present threat to national security by instigating rebellion within the armed forces”.

    Prior to the issuance of the notice, ARY News went off air in many parts of the country on Monday (August 8).

  • VIDEO: Fawad Ch removes successor Firdous Ashiq Awan from Imran cabinet’s WhatsApp group

    VIDEO: Fawad Ch removes successor Firdous Ashiq Awan from Imran cabinet’s WhatsApp group

    Incumbent Federal Minister for Science & Technology and former information minister Fawad Chaudhry has removed his successor Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan from the WhatsApp group of Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan’s cabinet after Awan, who had been handed the reins of the Information Ministry last year, was removed as the special assistant to the PM on information and broadcasting.

    Ever since Fawad was replaced by non-elected Awan in 2019, reports had hinted at a possible rift among the ranks of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI). The now science & tech minister had also discussed with a media outlet the cold war that was going on within the ruling party, saying that “non-elected people had the power to change portfolios of ministers” and “important decisions were made without many team members knowing about them”.

    Among several other reported spats between Fawad and Awan, with the ex-SAPM even complaining of some lawmakers’ behaviour to PM Imran, Fawad’s statements of a battle going on between elected and non-elected members was followed by Awan “admiring Fawad’s ‘struggle to always stay in headlines“.

    Amid rumours that the two weren’t best of friends ever since Fawad’s removal and Awan’s subsequent appointment, the federal minister had earlier this year even called out PM Imran’s former aide on “illiterate” remarks regarding Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Sardar Usman Buzdar.

    With Awan being replaced by former military bigwig Lt Gen (r) Asim Bajwa on Monday and PTI Senator Shibli Faraz being handed the reins of the Information Ministry, senior journalist and analyst Arshad Sharif asked if Fawad, being an admin of the WhatsApp group of PM Imran’s cabinet, had added Faraz and removed his successor, cracking the minister up.

    WATCH VIDEO:

    “That is how it is. If they go, they have to be removed,” a smiling Fawad told the journalist, adding that he was shocked to know that Sharif knew about the group, its admins and whatever happened in it.

  • Twitter spat after Arshad Sharif says will reveal inside stories about Ali Haider Zaidi

    The journalist and programme host Arshad Sharif, and the Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs, Ali Haider Zaidi are exchanging responses on Twitter after anchor Rauf Klasra shared Arshad’s talk show video about Ali Zaidi.

    Arshad Sharif in his talk show said that he will reveal some inside stories about how the minister is “accommodating his and Finance Minister Hafeez Shiekh’s friends and trying to lobby with certain businessman”.

    Ali Haider later replied to the tweet by saying, “I’m waiting for the film from OUR friend “Arshad” as well! Both friends only showing trailers!”.

    Soon after the minister’s reply, Arshad stepped into the fight and said, “The Kachra King was a good movie. Abhi film Baqi hai meray dost. Why the panic? Ali Zaidi Kay dost mahaan! Zardari kay dost chor? What’s this logic?”.

    Ali Zaidi then replied and requested Arshad to do a live show with him, where he can ask all the questions he wants on live TV.

    Arshad came back and replied with, “But please tell how your friends are Mahaan & Zardari’s friends are Chor? Why Imran Khan admonished you? Hold a press conference and answer that Minister”.

    The minister then wrote, “by the Grace of Almighty I was given a desk thumping applause in the cabinet meeting held on Sept 3rd 2019. Allah Karim”.

  • Pak-India social media war ensues as India tries to ban Pakistani anchor

    Pak-India social media war ensues as India tries to ban Pakistani anchor

    There’s something fishy going on Twitter. Pakistan’s Telecommunication Authority (PTA) said that they have contacted Twitter after the social media forum blocked over 150 Pakistani accounts for raising their voice for the Kashmiri people. PTA also said that Twitter “blocked Pakistani accounts under the influence of Indian lobbies”.

    PTA’s press release via Twitter

    The PTA made clear to Twitter that 178 accounts had been blocked for “advocating Kashmiri rights and condemning Indian forces’ atrocities in Indian-occupied Jammu and Kashmir,” and also said that, “It appears that the Twitter administration is under influence of Indian lobbies is depriving Pakistani users.”

    ARY’s prime time anchor, Arshad Sharif, also faced Indian social media aggression when India tried to get Twitter to ban his account.

    ARY Anchor Arshad Sharif gives details on Twitter

    The notice said that Arshad had been posting content that violates the law of India and requested him to remove the content.

    Notice from Twitter to ARY Anchor Arshad Sharif

    Arshad refused to do so and his Twitter account is banned in India.