JournalismPakistan.com
October 25, 2022

ISLAMABAD—Freedom Network has demanded an international investigation into the murder of TV anchor Arshad Sharif, a harsh critic of the powerful military establishment after the ouster of Imran Khan as prime minister.

Sharif was shot dead in Kenya on Sunday.

"The mysterious circumstances in which Arshad Sharif is killed warrants an international body-led investigation, which also needs to determine what conditions at home forced the journalist to flee for safer places abroad," Iqbal Khattak, Executive Director of Freedom Network, said.

Sharif's employer, ARY News channel, must also explain why it was unable to defend and protect him when he was under threats of different categories, Khattak said. He added that media houses should not escape from the responsibility to stand by journalists when they face risks to their life for their journalism.

Sharif investigated alleged corruption cases against former prime minister Nawaz Sharif. His anger towards the military establishment grew after joint opposition in Parliament successfully ousted Imran Khan through a no-confidence vote.

Pro-Imran Khan journalists and media houses were under fire from the establishment after the change of government in Islamabad early this year. Sharif was among those who faced 12 different legal cases, including sedition. They even went underground to escape possible arrest.