ISLAMABAD: An inquiry committee at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) will formally initiate an investigation on Monday to determine how journalist Arshad Sharif’s photographs taken during his autopsy were leaked to a private news channel.
A prominent Pakistani broadcaster who became a harsh critic of the incumbent government and the military toward the end of his life, Sharif was killed on October 23 when his car was said to have sped up and drove through a checkpoint outside the Kenyan capital, prompting the police to open fire.
The law enforcement officials in Nairobi expressed regret over the incident, saying it was a case of “mistaken identity” during a search for a car involved in a child abduction case. However, a Pakistani team of investigators that recently visited Kenya questioned the narrative of the officials in Nairobi while describing Sharif as “a victim of targeted killing.”
A Pakistani news channel, Dunya TV, recently shared pictures of the slain journalist taken during the autopsy, saying he had been tortured before his death.
“The following officers/officials are hereby requested to attend the inquiry committee meeting on 14/11/2022 at 9:30AM in Conference Room, IH, PIMS,” said the commission’s head, Dr. Naveed A. Shaikh, in a circular issued on Saturday in which he listed down the names of doctors and technical workers involved with Sharif’s autopsy.
The two-member inquiry committee was formed the hospital director, Dr. Khalid Masud, on Friday and asked to submit its report within three days.
It may be recalled that Sharif’s mother had approached the Islamabad High Court earlier this month to get her son’s delayed postmortem report.
She also requested the court that the document should not be made public without her family’s permission.
According to local media reports, the hospital authorities have also decided to approach Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) against the news channel for showing Sharif’s photographs and hurting “the family’s feelings.”
“In my opinion, it was unethical and Pemra should take notice,” the hospital director told Dawn newspaper.
Hospital to formally begin probe into Arshad Sharif’s leaked photos during autopsy on Monday
https://arab.news/jfjzv
Hospital to formally begin probe into Arshad Sharif’s leaked photos during autopsy on Monday
- A Pakistani news channel recently shared pictures of the slain journalist, saying he had been tortured before his death in Kenya
- The hospital also wants Pakistan’s media regulatory authority to act against the news channel for airing ‘unethical’ content
Pakistan bank enables Shariah-compliant digital payment facility for passengers at Islamabad airport
Pakistan bank enables Shariah-compliant digital payment facility for passengers at Islamabad airport
- Pakistan is a cash-dominated market where a significant portion of transactions in the informal sector are made without any taxes, officials say
- The move comes amid Pakistan’s efforts to introduce a cashless model at airports under which only digital service providers can provide services
KARACHI: Aik, Pakistan’s first Islamic digital bank, has enabled fully digital payments at Islamabad International Airport to offer travelers and passengers secure, Shariah compliant digital transaction facility.
The development comes amid Pakistan’s efforts to introduce a cashless model at airports across the country, under which only digital service providers can provide services to customers.
Aik, a subsidiary of Bank Islami, said it has onboarded merchants across the Islamabad airport and integrated QR code deployments at key touchpoints to allow passengers and visitors to make secure, seamless, and Shariah-compliant digital transactions at all counters, retail outlets, and service points.
It said the implementation complies with the regulations and framework set by the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) and is a working model for a large-scale adoption of cashless systems in public infrastructure.
“This deployment reflects our commitment to building practical digital infrastructure that improves everyday transactions,” Aik Chief Officer Ashfaque Ahmed said in a statement.
“By enabling a fully cashless environment at a major national gateway, we are supporting efficiency, transparency, and financial inclusion at scale. This is not only a project; it is a foundation for Pakistan’s cashless future.”
Pakistan is a cash-dominated market where a significant portion of transactions, particularly in the informal sector, are conducted in cash. Officials say many of these transactions are aimed at avoiding taxes.
In recent years, the SBP has taken steps to ensure a transition toward a more cashless economy so that transactions are more traceable, reducing chances of tax evasion and corruption.
By digitizing Islamabad airport, aik said it continues to invest in secure and accessible financial solutions that “expand digital participation and support national economic modernization.”
