Senior journalist and anchorperson Arshad Sharif was shot dead in Kenya’s capital Nairobi. Initially, it was reported that Arshad Sharif had died in an accident but later, his wife Javereia Siddiqui confirmed that the journalist had been shot dead in Kenya. Taking to Twitter, Siddiqui said Kenya’s police told her that Sharif was shot dead in Nairobi, while further investigation is underway. Sharif’s wife also urged people not to share their family pictures, personal details, or Sharif’s last pictures from the hospital on social media. Sharif was previously associated with ARY News and had gone to Dubai after resigning from the channel. Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari expressed sorrow over the death of the journalist and said that the Pakistani government is in contact with Kenyan authorities regarding the matter.

“The unbelievable incident of journalist Arshad Sharif  murder is extremely shocking and an irreparable loss to the journalist community of Pakistan.” “I offer my condolences to journalist Arshad Sharif family, journalist community and his fans,” said the foreign minister. Moreover, the Foreign Office Spokesperson Asim Iftikhar said Pakistan’s High Commission in Kenya was ascertaining information from the authorities. Authorities in both countries are yet to confirm the journalist’s death and the circumstances surrounding it. Some Pakistani media outlets had initially stated that Sharif was shot dead but later said he died in an accident. However, Sharif’s wife later tweeted that the journalist was shot dead in Kenya. Sharif, who was a fierce critic of the incumbent government and the country’s establishment, had left Pakistan earlier this year after sedition cases were registered against him in different cities.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan-INP