Justice Delayed

The government forms a two-member fact-finding committee to investigate the assassination of Arshad Sharif

Lahore: Despite the passage of over a month, no legal action has been taken in the brutal murder of renowned investigative journalist Arshad Sharif.

So far, no cases have been registered in Pakistan. Soon after the tragic incident, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif requested that the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court convene a full court to investigate Sharif’s assassination, but nothing has been done in this regard either.

Arshad Sharif was brutally murdered in Kenya on October 23, two months after fleeing the country, citing threats to his life from unknown sources. At the time Sharif left the country, over a dozen FIRs had been filed against him by the ruling government. The journalist was outspoken about the removal of former Prime Minister Imran Khan via a successful vote of no confidence in April of this year.

Kenyan police claimed shortly after Sharif’s death that he was killed due to a mistaken identity. Later, the Kenyan police changed their stance several times, and the Kenyan oversight body on police eventually concluded that the killing of the Pakistani journalist was a well-orchestrated and executed plan.

Although no formal FIR was filed in Pakistan in connection with the murder of Arshad Sharif, the federal government formed a two-member fact-finding committee that travelled to Kenya and Dubai for investigations, comprised of Director Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) DIG Athar Waheed and Deputy Director General Intelligence Bureau (IB) Omar Shahid Hamid.

Over a dozen people in Kenya were interviewed by the fact-finding team, including the two brothers, Waqar Ahmad and Khurram Ahmad, who hosted Sharif in the African country. In addition, statements from police officers involved in the alleged police shootout on the fateful night of October 23 have been recorded.

The fact-finding team also travelled to Dubai, where the journalist lived before moving to Kenya, according to sources.

According to sources, Dubai authorities have not provided CCTV footage of the lobby and hotel where Sharif stayed following his departure from Pakistan.

Sharif’s close circle also revealed that Dubai authorities allegedly threatened him to leave the tiny but influential Middle Eastern country. Sharif eventually arrived in Kenya, where the alleged plan to eliminate him was put in place.

It has also been learned that the fact-finding team has recorded ARY News owner Salman Iqbal’s statement. Iqbal went into hiding soon after Sharif was assassinated.

The fact-finding team, on the other hand, has begun summoning people close to Sharif who may have knowledge of the assassination.

Faisal Vawda, a former federal minister and disgruntled leader of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), also testified before the fact-finding team. Previously, Vawda claimed that the plot to kill Sharif was hatched in Pakistan and that powerful people were involved in the murder.

Vawda told Bol News shortly after recording his statement that he had shared whatever information he had about the murder with the fact-finding team. He stated that the investigation team had given him a questionnaire and that he would respond accordingly.

“Soon after meeting the team, I was confident that they would find the actual culprit (or culprits) who planned my friend’s execution. They are heading in the right direction,” Vawda said.

In response to a question, Vawda stated that Salman Iqbal should return and cooperate with the team, as he believes the owner of ARY News has no role in this matter.

“People will suspect your role if you do not cooperate and remain in hiding. I would like Salman Iqbal to return and help the team find the perpetrators.”

Furthermore, the fact-finding team summoned another PTI leader, Murad Saeed, to provide any information he has about Arshad Sharif’s murder.

It has also been revealed that while hiding in Kenya, Arshad Sharif possessed a satellite phone, meaning someone set up a satellite phone for Sharif, which he used during his stay in the African nation. The fact-finding team should, according to the source, look for the phone, which may lead them further.

Moreover, Arshad Sharif’s family has retained the services of renowned advocate Mian Ali Ashfaq to fight this case in court.

Speaking to Bol News, Javaria Siddique, Arshad Sharif’s widow, said that they have lost faith in the incumbent government to bring her husband’s tragic death to justice.

“My mother-in-law and I have written to the President and the Chief Justice of Pakistan seeking their assistance in obtaining justice, but nothing has been done in this regard,” she added.

Javaria further said, “We are all waiting to see what steps are taken to identify and prosecute my husband’s murderers. I have also requested that international organisations assist us in obtaining justice.”

In response to a query, Javaria stated that all of the complainants who had lodged 16 FIRs against her husband must be investigated to determine who was behind such pressure tactics, which forced Sharif to flee the country.

Responding to another question, Shairf’s widow said that the family has not filed a complaint about the murder with any police station in Islamabad. “Other than approaching a local police station to obtain Arshad Sharif’s postmortem report, we haven’t lodged any complaint anywhere yet.”

According to Javaria, they are not pointing fingers, but they want thorough investigations to bring justice and punishment to those responsible for the assassination plot.

Tasnim Haider

On November 20, Syed Tasnim Haider Shah appeared on television and shocked everyone with several startling revelations. He made headlines after accusing the leadership of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) of plotting the assassination of slain senior journalist Arshad Sharif and a botched assassination attempt on PTI chief Imran Khan.

He told reporters that the plots were hatched in London and that Sharif’s belongings had also arrived there.

Haider claimed, “Arshad Sharif’s laptop, iPhone, and other gadgets have arrived in London,” adding that PML-N worker Nasir Butt had contacted Sharif’s Kenyan hosts, Waqar Ahmad and Khurram Ahmad.

The self-proclaimed PML-N worker went on to say that Nasir Butt had asked him to perform a similar task by allegedly eliminating Imran Khan from the scene.

Haider claimed that he discussed the assassination plans in meetings with PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif at least three times.

PTI senior leaders, including Fawad Chaudhary and Advisor to Punjab Chief Minister Umar Sarfraz Cheema, demanded an investigation into Haider’s allegations shortly after the press conference.

In a statement, Cheema said that the authorities had contacted Haider and included him in the investigation into the assassination attempt on Imran Khan.

Cheema also stated that the PML-N’s central, provincial, and district-level leaders would be questioned about the Wazirabad gun attack in light of the self-confessed PML-N leader’s revelations.

“The scope of the investigation into the Wazirabad incident has been broadened,” he added.

On the other hand, PML-N spokesperson and Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Maryam Aurangzeb rebuked Haider’s claims, saying that if he has anything solid, he must present it before the Joint Investigation Team (JIT) investigating Imran Khan’s assassination attempt and the Arshad Sharif case.

“Tasnim Haider has no affiliation with the PML-N, nor is he the party’s London spokesperson,” the minister claimed.

In addition, Nasir Butt announced that he intends to file a defamation case against Tasnim Haider. He also lodged a harassment and fabrication complaint against him at the Greenford police station.

Tasnim Haider is also said to have fled the country in 2004 after several cases were registered against him.

Meanwhile, shortly after his press conference, Tasnim Haider was contacted by the fact-finding team in the Arshad Sharif murder case. The fact-finding committee has summoned him to appear before them on November 29 to record his statement in the Sharif murder case.

“Reportedly, you have claimed to have important relevant information or evidence regarding the murder of senior journalist Muhammad Arshad Sharif in Kenya. Therefore, you are requested to appear before the fact-finding team regarding the provision of the relevant information or evidence, if you have any, on November 29, 2022, at 11 AM, at FIA HQ, G-9/4 Islamabad,” read the FIR letter.

Responding about Arshad using any satellite phone while in Kenya,  Vawda said he has no such information.

But he added that the Dubai authorities have not cooperated the way it was required.

Javeria Siddique shared that the fact-finding team has requested Arshad Sharif’s family to record their statement as well and to share whatever they know about this case.