One of Pakistan’s most well-known journalists was Arshad Sharif. The public respected him greatly for his straightforward and fearless approach to journalism.
Who is Arshad Sharif?
Arshad Sharif was an investigative journalist, writer, and news anchor for Pakistan’s national and international news organizations, including the United Kingdom, who specialized in political events. The President of Pakistan, Arif Alvi, awarded him the Pride of Performance in journalism on March 23, 2019, in recognition of his achievements. Sharif was murdered in Kenya on October 23, 2022. He was the anchor of the program Power Play on ARY News prior to joining Aaj News, where he was the director of news. Dunya News employed him as the host of Kyun.
Early life
Arshad Sharif was born in Karachi, Pakistan, to a naval commander, Muhammad Sharif TI(M) TK. In 1993, while still a student, he began working as a freelance journalist. He earned his master’s degree in public administration from Quaid-i-Azam University in Islamabad.
Personal life
Pakistan’s armed forces institute of cardiology was where Commander Muhammad Sharif died of a heart attack in May 2011. On May 15, 2011, his younger brother, Major Ashraf Sharif, was killed when his car veered off the road as he was going to attend his father’s funeral.
When his father died, Major Ashraf Sharif, who was in Bannu Cantonment, refused a chauffeur or escort and drove a few kilometers away. Shortly after, his vehicle veered off the road and hit a tree, killing him. Commander Muhammad Sharif and Major Ashraf Sharif were buried with full military honors at the H-11 Graveyard. They were laid to rest in May 2011.
Journalistic career
- Sharif also headed AAJ News and Dunya TV as ‘Director News’.
- He worked as a Bureau Chief of Dawn News in 2011.
- His first media job was with a weekly publication, Pulse.
- He served as a columnist, reporter, and managing editor in 1999.
- Arshad Sharif joined The News in 1999 and Daily Dawn in 2001.
He reported on defense and foreign affairs issues in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas, which are considered to be one of the most dangerous regions in the world. He worked for some of Pakistan’s most prominent news outlets in London, Paris, Strasbourg, and Kiel.
Achievements
- Sharif as anchor won the 2016 Investigative Journalist of the Year Award.
- In 2018, Sharif was awarded Agahi’s Peoples’ Choice Award: Favorite Current Affairs Anchor – Male
- As a reporter, Sharif began a new program on ARY News in 2014.
Awards
- Pride of Performance Award in 2019 by the President of Pakistan
- Agahi Award for Journalism in 2012
Arshad Sharif’s documentary “Behind Closed Doors”
In August, Arshad Sharif left Pakistan and started his own YouTube channel. He most recently made headlines when he made an appearance in the corruption documentary “Behind Closed Doors” trailer.
The documentary “Behind Closed Doors,” which was produced, written, and directed by Murtaza Mehdi, shows how politicians used the global financial system and offshore financial centers to conceal their illegal wealth.
The PTI leader Imran Khan, journalist Arshad Sharif, John-Allan Namu, Tom Stocks, Rachel Davies Teka, Fawad Chaudry, Emin Huseynov, Shazad Akbar, and Irfan Hashmi were all cited as having contributed to the movie.
Arshad Sharif shot dead in Kenya
The Foreign Office reported that Pakistan’s high commissioner to Kenya, along with other officials, arrived at Chiromo Funeral House in Nairobi where she identified Sharif’s body, confirming the journalist’s passing.
The statement read, “Further procedures, including police report, are awaited.”
The circumstances surrounding the journalist’s passing remain a mystery. After first reporting that Sharif had been shot at, some Pakistani media agencies claimed he had died in an accident. Later, Sharif’s wife tweeted that he had been shot to death.
Initial reports in Kenyan media said that Sharif was killed by police in a “mistaken identity” incident. According to the report, the event happened on Sunday night near the Nairobi-Magadi highway.
After the event, the National Police Service of Kenya issued a statement confirming what had happened: “A foreigner, namely Arshad Mohammed Shariff, a Pakistani national aged 50, was severely injured by a police officer while a passenger in a motor vehicle KDG 200M.”
“At the time of the incident, the deceased was in the company of his brother namely Khurram Ahmed. The Incident follows a circulation from Pangani Police of a stolen motor vehicle. The officers trailing the motor vehicle towards Magadi alerted police in Magadi who erected a road barrier,” it said.
The police service stated that the deceased’s motor vehicle came upon the police barrier that Sharif’s driver “drove through”. “It is then that they were shot at, fatally injuring late Arshad Mohammad Shariff.”
The Kenyan police further said that it regretted the incident, adding that the competent authorities were investigating the incident for appropriate action.
A dark day for journalism
Senior journalist and anchorperson Arshad Sharif was shot dead by the Kenyan police Sunday night in a “mistaken identity” case while traveling to Nairobi from the country’s Magadi town, reported Kenyan newspaper The Star citing law enforcement officials.
“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,” a police officer told The Star.
Friends since 1998 when I joined Dawn Islamabad.Father of 5 school going kids,he was only male guardian of family left after Naval Commander father&Major Dr brother died on same day in 2011.Words alone cant explain grief&pain we all are suffering.
— Rauf Klasra (@KlasraRauf) October 23, 2022
A massive blow#arshadsharif pic.twitter.com/QxJcOL3vUs
Murder under mysterious circumstances:
According to Anne Makori, head of Nairobi’s Independent Police Oversight Authority (IPOA), “there is an alleged police assassination of a Pakistani national.”
She stated, “Our rapid response team has already been sent to look into the journalist’s slaying.
According to a senior police officer from Kenya, “we had a shooting incident that turned out to be a case of mistaken identity involving a journalist.” More details will be revealed later.
On their Twitter accounts, however, a few Kenyan journalists and attorneys have questioned numerous police assertions.
Meanwhile, the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan has urged the government to “pursue an immediate, transparent inquiry into the circumstances of his [Sharif’s] death.”
Pakistan High Commission facilitating the repatriation of Arshad Sharif’s body
According to the Foreign Office, Pakistan’s High Commission in Kenya is coordinating with the host government to arrange for the “expeditious” return of senior journalist Arshad Sharif’s body parts.
According to a statement from the Foreign Office, Pakistan’s High Commissioner in Kenya received the initial report of Arshad Sharif’s passing early on Monday morning and immediately got in touch with the police, senior officials at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and other ministries.
Along with the mobilization of Pakistanis of Kenyan descent, it claimed that the Office of the Vice President had also been called for confirmation. The High Commissioner and mission staff went to the location to identify the body after learning that Sharif’s body had been taken to Nairobi’s Chiromo Funeral House.
PM phones Kenyan President to press for impartial probe into Arshad Sharif’s killing
In a phone call to Kenyan President William Ruto, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed the nation’s deep sadness over the death of senior journalist Arshad Sharif in that nation.
Just had a telephonic call with Kenyan President William Ruto about the tragic death of Arshad Sharif in
— Shehbaz Sharif (@CMShehbaz) October 24, 2022. I requested him to ensure fair & transparent investigation into shocking incident. He promised all-out help including fast-tracking the process of return of the body to
He placed emphasis on conducting an unbiased and open investigation into the occurrence.
Kenyan president promises ‘all-out’ help: PM Shehbaz
The Kenyan President was asked by the Prime Minister to finish the necessary formalities so that the body of Arshad Sharif may be returned.
Expressing his deep regret over the incident, the Kenyan President assured that demands of justice will be fulfilled in the case and an investigative report will be released soon.
He also assured Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif that the process of the dead body’s return to Pakistan will be completed at the earliest.
Condolences pour in
After his murder, the media and politicians showered him with condolences.
The prime minister expressed his “deep sorrow” over the awful news. But there was no mention of a call for a probe into the killing in his post.
The episode was described as a loss for media and Pakistan by President Dr. Arif Alvi. He prayed, “May his soul rest in peace and may his family, including his followers, have the fortitude to face this loss.”
Sharif “paid the ultimate price for expressing the truth – his life,” according to a “shocked” Imran Khan. Despite having to flee the nation and remain in hiding abroad, the news anchor, he said, “continued to express the truth on social media, exposing the powerful.” The entire country is in mourning right now.
Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari strongly condemned Sharif’s killing.
“Deepest condolences to his family and loved ones who are in my thoughts and prayers, while they grapple with this sudden loss,” he said.
Later, the National Assembly unanimously passed a resolution for a “fair and transparent” investigation into Sharif’s murder.
The House unanimously passed resolution condemning the killing of Senior Journalist #ArshadSharif.
— National Assembly
The House also extended deepest condolences to bereaved family and media community.
Resolution was presented by @ShaziaAttaMarri. pic.twitter.com/HVcfDVpIVZ(@NAofPakistan) October 24, 2022
Arshad Sharif’s last video on youtube
The LAST Ever Goodbye of Arshad Sharif
May his soul rest in peace Ameen
