Pakistan PM Mounts Pressure on Ruto Over Arshad Sharif’s Death
Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar has reached out to President William Ruto in an attempt to solve the enigma surrounding the murder of investigative journalist Arshad Sharif.
During their meeting on Tuesday in Beijing, China, on the sidelines of the Third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation, Pakistan’s Prime Minister reportedly urged Kenya’s President Ruto to expedite the investigation into the assassination of the prominent journalist.
“The Prime Minister requested the Kenyan President for facilitation and finalization of the report of Special Joint Investigation Team in the murder case of late Pakistani journalist Arshad Sharif,” the outlets quoted the Pakistani PM’s office.
Sharif, an investigative journalist who was notoriously critical of the Pakistani military, was murdered in Kajiado on the Nairobi-Magadi Highway on October 23, 2022, nearly two months after he fled Pakistan for Kenya.
His homicide made headlines in Pakistan almost immediately, prompting the Kenyan Police to issue a statement. The National Police Service stated at the time that the journalist’s murder was a case of mistaken identity.
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According to the NPS’s account, which independent Pakistani investigators have since dismissed as misleading, the journalist was shot in the head by General Service Unit (GSU) officers after purportedly breaching a roadblock set up to inspect motor vehicles along the route.
Shariff was in the vehicle with his Kenyan host, Kuram Ahmed, who emerged unscathed from the incident when the shooting occurred.
Pakistani investigators concluded in their 600-page report that the journalist’s murder was a premeditated assassination and disregarded the Kenyan police account of how Shariff was shot as a ballistic impossibility.
Similarly, a Pakistani autopsy report documented multiple injuries on Sharif’s body, such as four missing fingernails, hand wounds, and a fractured rib. However, the investigation did not uncover sufficient proof that Sharif was tortured before his death.
The Pakistani Supreme Court appointed a panel of five judges to oversee an investigation into the murder of the prominent journalist due to the case’s prominence.
The 49-year-old deceased journalist fled Pakistan after being accused of multiple crimes, including treason and attempts to subvert the government.
Trade Negotiations
During the meeting, President Ruto and the Prime Minister of Pakistan also discussed bilateral cooperation in a variety of disciplines and reaffirmed their commitment to bolstering trade relations, investments, and education.
Prime Minister Kakar stated that as a member of the Belt and Road Initiative, Pakistan would like to increase collaboration with other BRI members, including Kenya, to identify and develop new projects and initiatives.
“This commitment underscores Pakistan’s dedication to furthering development and shared prosperity through increased cooperation and partnerships,” noted the PM.
The Prime Minister of Pakistan extended an invitation to Ruto to visit their country, which was accepted by the Head of State. In exchange, Ruto invited Kakar to visit Kenya, an invitation that was enthusiastically accepted.
Pakistan PM Mounts Pressure on Ruto Over Arshad Sharif’s Death
