Subject : Need justice for my late journalist husband Arshad Sharif

 

My name is Javeria Siddique, widow of late Pakistani journalist Mr. Arshad Sharif, a journalist who was shot in Kenya on October 23, 2022.

 

https://rsf.org/en/rsf-calls-independent-un-probe-pakistani-journalist-s-murder-kenya

 

Arshad Sharif did his master’s from Ulster University, Northern Ireland in Media Studies and went on to become a consummate professional in his field. Arshad was a renowned Pakistani investigative journalist who very convincingly highlighted the corruption cases of the current coalition government that is ruling Pakistan. Arshad was an internally known top investigative journalist who very convincingly highlighted the corruption of the current regime.

He was forced to leave Pakistan in August 2022 because of the scary intimidation tactics of the current regime and registration of fake first information reports (FIRs) against him under so-called "treason" and "sedition" charges in various part of the country.

The transmissions of the private TV channel – ARY News – were suspended. Mr Sharif had taken refuge in UAE but he had to leave the country when UAE authorities directed him to leave under pressure from the Pakistani government.

Since Arshad had left Pakistan haphazardly under severe threats to his life, he didn’t have any visas on his passports to go to a much safer place in the world. Hence, from UAE he went to Kenya, where he was fatally and brutally murdered. He was an upright, fearless, and professional journalist whose only crime was to speak and write the truth against the mighty and the powerful. And this was the reason he was silenced forever.

We are extremely disturbed and disappointed the way the investigations into Arshad’s cold-blooded murder are being carried out by the government of Pakistan and the authorities in Kenya. It strongly appears that this whole exercise is aimed at just completing the due formalities and settling political and professional scores.

There are many discrepancies, anomalies and contradictions in the initial investigations.

We want an inquiry under united nations. Otherwise, we can’t able to get justice for my beloved late husband who was shot dead in Kenya. 

It is respectfully requested that the investigation be conducted by none other than a high-powered international team of experts under the direct auspices and supervision of the United Nations, for the transparency of clarification and the dispensation of justice that my journalist husband, Arshad Sharif, deserves.

With utmost respect and heartfelt rendering that I hereby personally appeal to you an impartial, transparent investigation that will conclusively determine the culprits behind my husband's murder as well as concrete demands for the apprehension of and the incarceration of the guilty parties. 

Javeria Siddique 

Journalist and Photographer 

Widow of late Journalist Arshad Sharif 

twitter @javerias

https://www.youtube.com/javeriasiddique