ISLAMABAD: Former Pakistani prime minister Imran Khan on Tuesday said he had twice advised Arshad Sharif, a prominent Pakistani journalist who was shot dead in Kenya over the weekend, to leave the country due to what he believed were threats to the anchorman’s life.
Sharif, a hugely popular talk show host at ARY News from which he resigned in August, was of late a harsh critic of the current ruling coalition and the army, and fled the country in August after remarks by a politician on a news bulletin he hosted were deemed “seditious” by the country’s media regulator and government. Sharif was also widely considered a staunch supporter of Khan and his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) opposition party.
Sharif was already at the time facing a slew of court cases related to charges of sedition. He was believed to have been in the United Arab Emirates since he left Pakistan in August and had recently traveled to Kenya from the Emirates.
While Sharif's death drew an outpouring of grief from across the country, Khan criticized the government for allegedly targeting political leaders and journalists covering its opponents.
"Arshad Sharif would never make a compromise on his conscience. Everyone knows he was a patriotic Pakistani; everyone knows that he had two martyrs in his family. He would always stand for his country," Khan said at a press conference in Lahore.
"He was threatened so that he could step back from his stance. I advised him twice, the second time he left the country for his life was under threat."
He said no democracy in the world had an example of the way the government of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif imposed curbs on the media and subjected it to brutality.
"The way they arrested and tortured Imran Riaz, the way they humiliated Ayaz Amir, the way they tried to disrespect Sami Ibrahim. Sabir Shakir fled the country," the ex-premier said, referring to journalists who have faced court cases over ‘sedition.’
"And what is most painful, I understand, for the journalist fraternity... the more painful thing what they have done to Arshad Sharif, I have not seen such an example in Pakistan."
Separately on Tuesday, Pakistan's powerful army, which Sharif was lately a vehement critic of, requested the government to conduct a thorough, high-level inquiry into the journalist's killing to put an end to speculation about his death.
“The GHQ [General Headquarters] has requested the government today to conduct a highest-level investigation into the incident,” Lieutenant General Babar Iftikhar, the head of Pakistani military's media wing, told Pakistan's 24 news channel.
“All those speculating about it [the murder] should stop it. Unfortunately, some elements are leveling baseless allegations based on this incident and this should come to an end.”
Lt Gen Iftikhar said the investigation should also be conducted into the circumstances as to why Sharif had to leave Pakistan, who forced him and where he had stayed all this time.
“We have to put this to a logical end and we have requested the government to conduct a high-level inquiry into it,” he said.
“We have also requested the government to take legal action against all those involved in baseless allegations against the institutions.”
The head of military's media wing lauded the slain journalist for his invaluable skills, adding he had covered almost all Pakistani military operations against militants in the field.
“We have to see as to who is benefiting on the pretext of this unfortunate incident,” he added.
Earlier, Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif decided to constitute a judicial commission to probe circumstances surrounding Sharif's death.
“The prime minister has decided to constitute a judicial commission headed by a high court judge [to probe the killing],” Information Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb said in a statement on Tuesday.
“The prime minister has taken this decision to ascertain real facts behind the death of Arshad Sharif.”
Sharif’s body has been repatriated to Pakistan and is expected to arrive at the Islamabad Airport later tonight, according to the Pakistani foreign office.
“The mortal remains of late Arshad Sharif are being repatriated from Nairobi tonight on board flight QR 1342 departing Nairobi at 1:25 AM for Doha,” it said in a brief statement Monday night.
“Onward flight QR 0632 will leave Doha at 1935 hours (25 Oct) and arrive Islamabad 01:05 hours tomorrow night.
