ISLAMABAD: The fact-finding committee, formed to probe the killing of senior journalist Arshad Sharif, has revealed in its report that the slain journalist was apparently forced to leave United Arab Emirates (UAE).
The senior journalist was killed in Kenyan capital Nairobi on October 23 where he was living in self-exile.
The fact-finding committee, which had traveled to Kenya and Dubai to probe Arshad Sharif’s movements and his killing, revealed that the slain journalist was forced to leave UAE in a report submitted to Secretary of Interior.
In the report, the committee revealed that the slain journalist was forced to leave Pakistan due to the threats associated with the cases registered against him, pointing out that the cases were against the rules and regulations.
Arshad Sharif’s murder, according to the investigation, was premeditated, and it was refuted that the journalist was mistaken for someone else. It further disclosed that the newscaster reportedly had to depart the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
In its report, the committee noted that despite being called in by the authorities, former federal minister Faisal Vawda had not provided a statement or any supporting documentation.
“Faisal Vawda did not even submit the answers to the questionnaire, forwarded by the committee,” it added. Most of the fact-finding report consists of interviews with people.
Meanwhile, the report also revealed that only two out of nine plaintiffs of first information reports, registered against the journalist, appeared before the committee.
Moreover, the mother of slain journalist Arshad Sharif has urged the incumbent government to register first information report (FIR) on her complaint.
In a statement, Arshad Sharif’s mother – Riffat Ara Alvi – said that her son was murdered and the government should register the FIR on her complaint.
The statement came hours after Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Umar Ata Bandial ordered the incumbent government to register first information report (FIR) of Arshad Sharif’s murder in Kenya by tonight.
It is worth mentioning that the former prime minister Imran Khan wrote a letter to Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Umar Ata Bandial last week demanding a judicial inquiry into the killing of journalist Arshad Sharif.
