In what authorities are calling a mistaken identity, a senior Pakistani journalist was fatally murdered Sunday night along the Nairobi-Magadi highway.
After Arshad Sharif and his driver allegedly violated a roadblock established to check on vehicles using the route, Arshad Sharif was shot in the head and murdered by police.
They were flagged down at a roadblock being held by a group of police officials while travelling from Magadi town to Nairobi, according to the police.
Independent Policing Oversight Authority will handle the case, according to police headquarters.
A senior police officer acknowledged the shooting and said a full statement will be made public later.
“We had an incident of shooting which turned out to be a case of mistaken identity involving a journalist. We will release more information later,” the officer said.
Police said that after a carjacking incident in Nairobi’s Pangani neighbourhood where a child was taken hostage, there was a request for police to stop a car like the one they were driving at the roadblock.
They were stopped and asked for identification after Sharif’s automobile had made its appearance at the roadblock a little while earlier.
They allegedly ignored the barricade and continued driving.
This led to a quick chase and shooting, which resulted in Sharif’s death. His driver was hurt in the rollover and sent to the hospital.
He eventually admitted to being a developer and that he and the deceased employee were travelling to a site in Magadi.
The news of the incident spread fast in Pakistan where the journalist was prominent.
Sharif’s wife Javeria Siddiqui took to Twitter and confirmed the tragic news, acknowledging that her husband was killed in Kenya.
“I lost friend, husband and my favourite journalist [Arshad Sharif] today, as per police he was shot in Kenya,” she tweeted.
She also urged the media and the public not to share their family pictures, personal details, and Sharif’s last pictures from the hospital on social media.
I lost friend, husband and my favourite journalist @arsched today, as per police he was shot in Kenya.
Respect our privacy and in the name of breaking pls don't share our family pics, personal details and his last pictures from hospital.
Remember us in ur prayers. pic.twitter.com/wP1BJxqP5e— Javeria Siddique (@javerias) October 24, 2022
Sharif previously worked for ARY News, and after leaving the network, he moved to Dubai.
After the news of Sharif’s passing spread, condolences poured in from all around the nation.
Imran Khan, the chairman of the PTI and a former prime minister, offered his sympathies for the loss of journalist Arshad Sharif.
Hina Pervaiz Butt, the leader of the PML-N, offered her sincere condolences for the journalist’s passing, while Ali Zaidi, the leader of the PTI, too conveyed his sorrow for Shariff’s passing.
Sharif’s passing was seen as a loss for Pakistan’s journalism and by President Dr. Arif Alvi.
May his followers and his family find the strength to deal with this loss, Alvi said. “May his soul rest in peace,” he added.
The prime minister, Shehbaz Sharif, expressed his profound sadness. He sent prayers and condolences to the journalist’s family.
