Military seeks 'high-level' investigation into Arshad Sharif's killing

Military seeks 'high-level' investigation into Arshad Sharif's killing

Rawalpindi (Web Desk): Director General (DG) Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Lieutenant General Babar Iftikhar on Tuesday said that the military has requested the government to thoroughly investigate into the killing of senior journalist Arshad Sharif so that all these speculations can be put to rest.

"It is very unfortunate that people indulge in allegations. And I think a thorough investigation needs to be conducted to tackle these things", the DG ISPR said while speaking to a private TV channel on Tuesday.

General Babar Iftikhar said he believed that the probe should not just be into these things but also on why Arshad Sharif had to leave Pakistan.

He stressed that it was important to find answers to questions regarding who forced Sharif to leave Pakistan, where did he live all this time, and what were the circumstances leading to this incident.

"At all these stages unfortunately, at the end of the day, allegations are leveled and institutions are accused. So this speculation has to be put to rest and it has to come to an end," he said.

“This is why we have requested the government of Pakistan to take legal action against all these people who are leveling allegations without any evidence,” the DG ISPR added.

Earlier, the military, in a letter to the government, requested the formation of an inquiry commission for a detailed investigation into the killing of Sharif by Kenya police.

The letter also requests legal proceedings against those who are casting aspersions/accusations as per the constitution of Pakistan.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has decided to form a judicial commission to investigate killing of senior journalist and anchorperson Arshad Sharif in Kenya.

The prime minister, in a video message from Saudi Arabia where he is visiting to attend Future Investment Initiaitve Summit, said the government would request the Islamabad High Court (IHC) to designate a judge for the purpose.

The matter for the formation of a judicial commission would also be tabled before the federal cabinet for endorsement, he added.

Later in a tweet, the premier said, “I have decided to form a Judicial Commission to hold an inquiry into the killing of journalist Arshad Sharif in order to determine the facts of the tragic incident in a transparent & conclusive manner.”

Arshad Sharif was shot dead in Kenya allegedly by the local police on Sunday night with an official statement later expressing “regrets on the unfortunate incident” and said the investigation was underway in the tragic incident.