An investigation team probing the Kenya killing of popular journalist Arshad Sharif had directed Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Murad Saeed to present a laptop belonging to the deceased.
In a letter, the team said it had been revealed that the slain journalist’s laptop was in Saeed’s possession. He had been directed to present himself along with the personal computer before the team on November 28. This, he was informed, may help ascertain facts on the journalists killing. Saeed was asked to cooperate on this account.
The team said a report on the killing was due to be presented before the Supreme Court. Sharif, the team said, had left the laptop with Saeed before he left Pakistan.
Sharif, a popular journalist, was killed in Kenya on October 23. Local police billed his killing a case of ‘mistaken identity’ while social media was rife with accusations. Javeria, the wife of the deceased, separately reiterated calls for the family’s right to privacy be respected. Kenya media, separately, has not been buying the police version (of events). Kenya police, while earlier claiming the journalist was attacked after the vehicle he was travelling in failed to stop at a picket on Tuesday tweaked the version presented earlier. The force, in its latest stance, said Arshad had been killed in an exchange of fire.
Murad should have voluntarily handed it over to the authorities as it holds vital clues to what could be the possible motives behind his killing.
It’s otherwise obstruction of justice.