It was important to find answers to questions regarding who forced Arshad Sharif to leave Pakistan: DG ISPR Lt. Gen. Babar Iftikhar
ISLAMABAD, Oct 25 (SABAH): Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Director General (DG) Lieutenant General Babar Iftikhar on Tuesday said the military has requested the government to conduct a “high-level investigation” into the killing of senior journalist Arshad Sharif in Kenya.
Arshad Sharif was shot dead in Kenya allegedly by the local police on Sunday night, with an official police statement later expressing “regrets on the unfortunate incident” and saying an investigation was underway. Initially, Kenyan media quoted the local police as saying Sharif was shot dead by police in a case of “mistaken identity”.
In an interview with a private TV channel on Tuesday, when the DG ISPR Lieutenant General Babar Iftikhar was asked to comment on the allegations being made against the institutions, he condoled the journalist’s death and called for an inquiry into the killing.
“We have requested the government to hold a high-level investigation so that all these speculations can be put to rest,” he said.
“It is very unfortunate that people indulge in allegations […] and I think a thorough investigation needs to be conducted to tackle these things. I believe that the probe should not just be into these things but also on why Arshad Sharif had to leave Pakistan,” the DG ISPR said.
Lieutenant General Babar Iftikhar stressed that it was important to find answers to questions regarding who forced Arshad Sharif to leave Pakistan, where did he live all this time, and what were the circumstances leading to this incident.
“In all these stages unfortunately, at the end of the day, allegations are leveled and institutions are accused. So this speculation has to be put to rest and it has to come to an end.
“This is why we have requested the Government of Pakistan to take legal action against all these people who are leveling allegations without any evidence,” he added.
Recalling Arshad Sharif’s work over the years, the DG ISPR said that the journalist was a “very professional man” and his programmes would be remembered as “textbook journalism”.
“This is why it is most upsetting that his death is being used for baseless conversations and fingers are being raised on it. We just have to see who is using this unfortunate incident […] who is the beneficiary of this thing […] this needs to come to an end,” DG ISPR added.
Lt Gen Babar Iftikhar further said we have requested an investigation from the government of Pakistan and action should be taken against those leveling allegations. “Arshad Sharif was a professional journalist and he also reported during Zarb-e-Azb,” he added.
He said, “All the factors of this tragic incident need to be looked at and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has also contacted the Kenyan President regarding the incident.