Director General (DG) Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Lieutenant-General Babar Iftikhar said on Tuesday that a probe into Arshad Sharif’s Sunday Kenya killing must look into why the slain journalist had to flee Pakistan.
Babar made the comments while speaking to a private TV channel. He urged the government to ensure a high-powered probe into the killing. He said all aspects of the incident had to be inspected. While Kenya police had accepted responsibility for the killing, scores of question stood unanswered, Babar said.
The DG ISPR also said legal proceedings should be initiated against those airing unfounded allegations. Who was gaining mileage out of the killing, he said, needed to be ascertained.
The military, separately, called on the government to constitute a high-powered commission to probe the journalist’s killing. In a letter, the General Headquarters (GHQ) urged the government to ensure a comprehensive probe into the incident. The military also demanded action against those proliferating allegations in line with the Constitution of Pakistan.
Arshad was killed in the East African country on Sunday. Local police billed the incident as a case of ‘mistaken identity’ while social media was rife with accusations. His wife Javeria, separately, reiterated calls for the family’s right to privacy be respected. Kenya media, separately, has not been buying the police version (of events).
