Listen to this articleAamir Qureshi/AFP through Getty Images
- Pakistani journalist Arshad Sharif was shot lifeless in Kenya in what police stated was a case of “mistaken identity.”
- His widow and former PM Imran Khan allege it was a focused killing due to his criticisms of the navy.
- In an unprecedented transfer, Pakistan’s spy agency held its first-ever press convention to deny the claims.
The head of Pakistan’s spy agency gave an unprecedented press convention to deny it was answerable for killing a high-profile Pakistani journalist in Kenya.
The chief of Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), Lieutenant General Nadeem Ahmed Anjum, spoke to the media on Thursday alongside a navy spokesperson to tackle Sharif’s killing.
It was the first time that the head of the ISI had ever instantly addressed reporters in Pakistan’s historical past, in accordance to the native Dawn newspaper.
Arshad Sharif, an investigative journalist recognized for being vital of Pakistan’s powerful navy, was shot lifeless by Kenyan police on Sunday night time.
Kenyan police stated that the killing was a case of “mistaken identity” in a mix-up with one other automotive linked to a youngster abduction case, Al Jazeera reported.
Al Jazeera reporter Catherine Soi famous that it was “not clear how police mistook the number plates of these two cars, which are completely different.”
Sharif fled Pakistan in August after he confronted sedition prices following an interview with a shut aide of former Prime Minister Imran Khan, in which the aide made feedback deemed to be offensive to the navy.
Sharif is believed to have had a shut relationship with Khan, who was ousted from energy in April after he appeared to have lost the support of the military.
The navy has dominated the nation for over half of its historical past and is considered as the main powerbroker behind the scenes.
The shadowy ISI spy agency, which has shut ties to the navy, has lengthy been accused of supporting terrorist groups that assault its neighbors, manipulating elections, and abducting and killing journalists. It has regularly denied all of the allegations.
Ousted Prime Minister Khan stated that Sharif’s demise “highlighted an ongoing targeting of anyone who dares to criticize or question those holding power,” per Al Jazeera.
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Sharif’s widow Javeria Siddique additionally stated that she believed it was a “target killing.” “Journalism is not a crime. Please raise your voice,” she stated in a video message.
Pakistan has a lengthy historical past of suppressing the media and is ranked 157 out of 180 nations in a press freedom index by Reporters with out Borders.
The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan has demanded an inquiry into Sharif’s demise. It stated in a assertion to Al Jazeera: “A long, grim record of violent tactics to silence journalists explains why the reported murder of journalist Arshad Sharif in Kenya has sent shock waves through the journalist community.”
Pakistan’s ISI and navy deny duty for the killing
Lt. Gen. Anjum denied that ISI and the navy had something to do along with his demise and stated that that they had “no personal enmity” with him, per VOA News.
Military spokesperson Lieutenant General Babar Iftikhar stated that Sharif’s demise was an unlucky incident and requested that judgments not be made till a two-member inquiry committee investigating the circumstances of his demise returned their report.
During the press convention, the pair doubled down on their criticisms of Khan however denied having taken motion to take away him from energy.
“The army had an intense internal discussion. We reached the conclusion the country’s interest lies in us restricting ourselves to our constitutional role and remaining out of politics,” Anjum stated, per VOA.
Sharif’s funeral was held in Islamabad on Thursday and drew crowds of up to 30,000, an Islamabad police officer estimated to Al Jazeera.
