Arshad Sharif's killing a case of 'mistaken identity': Kenyan media

KARACHI: A report published in a Kenyan media website claims that a senior Pakistani journalist was shot dead Sunday night along the Nairobi-Magadi highway in what police termed as a mistaken identity.

Also read: Pakistan’s prominent journo, anchorperson Arshad Sharif assassinated in Kenya

The Keyan media report said Arshad Sharif was shot in the head and killed by police after he and his driver allegedly breached a roadblock that had been set up to check on motor vehicles using the route.

The report said that Arshad Sharif was traveling from Magadi town to Nairobi when they were flagged down at a roadblock being manned by a group of police officers, police said.

Police headquarters said Independent Policing Oversight Authority will take over the case.

Also read: Arshad Sharif’s murder: IHC issues notices to Secretary Foreign, Interior ministries

A senior police officer confirmed the shooting and added a comprehensive statement will be released later.

“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,” the officer said.

According to police, at the roadblock, there was a call for police to intercept a car similar to the one they were driving following a carjacking incident in Pangani area, Nairobi where a child was taken hostage.

Also read: Who was prominent journalist Arshad Sharif? Who killed him in Kenya?

And a few minutes later, Sharif’s car emerged at the roadblock and they were stopped and asked to identify themselves. They allegedly failed to stop and drove past the roadblock.

This prompted a brief chase and shooting that left Sharif dead. Their car rolled and his driver was injured and taken to hospital.

He later told police he and his slain colleague were developers and were headed for a site in Magadi.