The Prime Minister of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan Shehbaz Sharif has called for a fair and transparent probe into the killing of journalist Arshad Sharif in Kenya.
Sharif, a renowned investigative journalist, was shot dead by police officers manning a roadblock along Magadi Road on the night of Sunday, October 23, in what authorities described as a case of 'mistaken identity'.
Shehbaz said on Monday afternoon that he had reached out to the Kenyan government over the killing.
The PM, in a statement shared on his official Twitter page, said he held a telephone conversation with President William Ruto about the tragic death of Sharif and requested him to ensure a fair and transparent investigation into the shocking incident.
The President, Shehbaz revealed, promised to ensure a speedy probe into the incident as well as the return of the body of the victim to Pakistan.
"Just had a telephonic call with Kenyan President William Ruto about the tragic death of Arshad Sharif in 🇰🇪. I requested him to ensure fair & transparent investigation into shocking incident.
"He promised all-out help including fast-tracking the process of return of the body to Pakistan," the Prime Minister said.
Just had a telephonic call with Kenyan President William Ruto about the tragic death of Arshad Sharif in 🇰🇪. I requested him to ensure fair & transparent investigation into shocking incident. He promised all-out help including fast-tracking the process of return of the body to 🇵🇰— Shehbaz Sharif (@CMShehbaz) October 24, 2022
Earlier, the Prime Minister expressed sadness over the shocking news of Sharif's tragic death.
"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."
Sharif killed by GSU officers
Sharif was driving from Magadi to Nairobi accompanied by his brother Khurram Ahmed at around 10:00 pm when officers who claim that they had been alerted of a case of child abduction and were on a night operation shot at their car when they failed to stop at a makeshift roadblock.
“Upon scrutiny of the vehicle, it was found that it had a bullet hole on the left side of the windscreen on the side the deceased was sitting, two bullet holes on the rear left back screen, one bullet hole on the rear right door, four holes on right side of the boot and one on front right tyre that had been deflated,” police said.
Police headquarters said the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) will conduct an investigation to establish what transpired.
Police headquarters also said preliminary investigations had established that the GSU officers had been alerted of a case from Pangani where a child had been abducted.
Officers from DCI Starehe had reported that a motor vehicle registration number KDJ 700F belonging to Douglas Wainaina had been stolen in Pangani. Kamau had reported that he parked the car outside an electrical shop and left his son, Duncan Kamau, inside the car.
Upon return, he found the vehicle missing and reported the matter to the police.
“He reported the said incident at Pangani police station. The officers located the son at Olosuritia ACK Church within Kiserian. He was also located at Kiserian dam estate and later at Olepolos Hills,” a police brief read.
The Pangani DCI officers then alerted the in-charge of Magadi General Service Unit (GSU).
Police officers erected a roadblock along Kuenia-Kamukuru road and as the two foreigners were driving back to Nairobi they found the roadblock of stones before the Kiserian-Magadi road.
The deceased was driving in a motor vehicle registration number KDG 200M accompanied by his brother Khurram Ahmed at around 10:00 pm.
The deceased’s brother said as they passed the roadblock, he heard gunshots but he did not stop and instead continued with the journey.
Khurram then called Naqar Ahmed, also a Pakistan national who resides at Tinga, and informed him about the incident.
He advised them to pass his place and on arrival at the main gate found his brother had died, with a gunshot wound on the head which had penetrated from the back of his head and exited at the front side of his head.
It was later established that the Pakistani nationals were developers and reside in Nairobi.
