PEC demands probe into the murder of Pak journalist in Nairobi

By N.J. Thakuria,Assam

Geneva, Switzerland, 27 October 2022: Press Emblem Campaign (PEC), the
global media safety and rights body, condemned the murder of Pakistani
journalist Arshad Sharif (50) in Nairobi, who becomes the 102nd media
victims so far in 2022 and urged the Kenya government to fairly probe
into the incident that led to his demise. The broadcast journalist in
exile, who was critical to the Pak military agencies, was shot dead by
armed personnel on Sunday night, stated his wife Javeria Siddique.

A former reporter with ARY TV Arshad fled to Kenya in August following
troubles in his country. A Karachi-born Arshad started his
journalistic career three decades back and emerged as a popular media
personality with his investigative reports. A master’s degree holder
in media studies, Arshad also worked with Aaj News, Dunya TV, Dawn
News, etc. Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists along with a large
number of media workers condoled his untimely demise.

“We demand a transparent judicial investigation into Arshad’s killing
and urge Kenyan President William Ruto to punish the culprits,
involved with his murder, under the relevant laws,” said Blaise
Lempen, president of PEC, adding that the brave journalist had to
leave Pakistan following sedition charges were framed against him
following an interview with an opposition politician.

Pakistan earlier lost journalists Muhammad Younis, Iftikhar Ahmed,
Hasnain Shah, Murtaza Shar and Athar Mateen to assailants this year,
said PEC’s south Asia representative Nava Thakuria adding that India
witnessed the murder of journalists Rohit Kumar Biswal, Sudhir Saini,
Juned Khan Pathan and Subhash Kumar Mahato since 1 January.
Journalists namely Hashibur Rahaman Rubel, Mohiuddin Sarker Nayeem and
Abdul Bari were killed in Bangladesh and Myanmar witnessed the death
of photojournalist Aye Kyaw and journalist Pu Tui Dim in military
atrocities.