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On October 23, 2022, Journalist Sharif was shot dead by Kenyan police in Kajiado, claimed as a “mistaken identity” case, sparking assassination suspicions. Investigations were launched by Kenyan authorities, Pakistan’s FIA, and a judicial committee at PM Shehbaz Sharif’s request. In July 2024, the Kajiado High Court ruled the killing unlawful, ordering $78,000 compensation to Sharif’s family.
Journalist Information:
Name: Arshad Sharif
Age: 49
Gender: Male
DOB: 22/02/1973
Nationality: Pakistani
Last company worked for: ARY Digital Network
Family: Arshad left behind his wife and five adoring children when he was murdered.
Incident Information:
Date of incident – 23 October 2020
Location of incident – Kajiado, Kenya
Offense victim of: Assassination
Weapons included – Firearm
Arshad Sharif was killed by the Kenyan police when they opened fire on his car at a roadblock outside Nairobi. Authorities said it was a case of mistaken identity.
Suspect(s) Information:
Perpetrator Identified: Yes
Name: Kenyan police
Proof of Targeting the Journalist: At the time, Nairobi police expressed regret over the shooting, saying it was a case of “mistaken identity” during a search for a similar car involved in a child abduction case. But a team of Pakistani investigators later said Sharif’s killing was a “planned assassination”. His widow, Javeria Siddique, filed the case against the Kenyan police unit, known as the General Service Unit or GSU, that was involved in the shooting. “For me, it was a targeted assassination because he was living in hiding in Kenya after receiving threats in Pakistan.”
Reason for Killing: Sharif was killed by Kenyan law enforcement at a roadblock in Nairobi in October 2022, in an accident described by the Kenyan security officials as a case of mistaken identity. On 08 July 2024, following a civil suit brought by Sharif’s family, the High Court of Kenya in Kajiado ruled that the use of lethal force in Sharif’s death was “unlawful and unconstitutional” and required the Kenyan State to pay 10 million shillings (approximately US $78,000) in compensation to Sharif’s family.
Progress of the Case: In July 2024, the Kajiado County High Court found police acted unlawfully and ordered the government to pay 10 million Kenyan shillings in compensation.
Success Factor in Arshad’s Case: The success factor in Arshad Sharif’s case was mass public outrage in Pakistan, strong pressure from local journalists, and court intervention, which led to a judicial commission investigation and international scrutiny of Kenyan police actions. His prominence as a journalist and his controversial reporting fueled demands for accountability, keeping the case in the national and global focus.
Read More: https://www.dawn.com/news/1896382