According to journalists on social media, TV anchor and prominent journalist Arshad Sharif has died in Kenya.
While his former employers ARY News says that he died in an accident, investigations by the local police are underway.
Alongside journalists and citizens expressing shock over his reported demise, there are also claims of murder and accusations of foul play involved in the death of the journalist. Sharif had been recently more critical and vocally opposed to ongoing political developments in Pakistan.
Meher Bokhari, a TV journalist tweeted in ten early hours of Monday morning, “Arshad Sharif, not just a colleague, a brother, is no more. From Islamabad to Moscow, from Dunya News to ARY, I’ve not known a finer gentleman. Shot dead. Too young. Too brutally.” She added, “Still can not wrap my head around it.”
Daily Jang first reported that he died in an accident but then changed it to ‘murder’ after Sharif’s wife tweeted.
Other media sources tweeted and reported the same. The details of his death are currently unknown. However, PTI leader Shireen Mazarin claimed in a tweet that he was killed by a sniper attack.
Tributes from Sharif’s colleagues and friends also poured when his death was confirmed.
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.
A massive blow😢#arshadsharif pic.twitter.com/QxJcOL3vUs— Rauf Klasra (@KlasraRauf) October 23, 2022
Journalist Nasim Zehra was more emphatic:
Arshad Sharif is shot dead 💔💔💔Pakistan piles up it’s tragedies… ugly ways and tormented souls … will they ever end…for how long will the blood-games carry on ?
— Nasim Zehra (@NasimZehra) October 23, 2022
Kamran Khan questioned the government on Twitter and asked the prime minister Shehbaz Sharif to take “the nation in confidence”:
Shahbaz Sharif Govt banned hounded launched cases and forced Arshad Sharif to escape from his motherland. Finger pointing conjectures innuendos in social media see its hands in the tragedy. PM Shahbaz Sharif must take nation into confidence and present an official account pic.twitter.com/Mf1uWHd8du
— Kamran Khan (@AajKamranKhan) October 24, 2022
Many among twitterati, including some PTI supporters, are accusing the state agencies of involvement. However, there are no details forthcoming from Kenya at the time of filing this story.
Others chose to condole with messages of forgiveness:
ارشد شریف نے میرے خلاف چویدری شوگر ملز اور ملتان میٹرو کے حوالے سے درجنوں ہروگرام کیے جس کے لیے اس نے کبھی میرا موقف جاننا بھی ضروری نہ سمجھا۔اس نے میرے بیٹے ارسلان ظفر پہ بھی حساس معلومات بھارت کو دینے کا الزام لگایا۔
میں اپنی طرف سے اسے معاف کرتا ہوں، الہی مغفرت فرمائیں۔آمین— Zafar Hijazi (@ZafarHijazi) October 24, 2022
This is a developing story.
