ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Murad Saeed slammed the media trial of the murder of renowned anchorperson Arshad Sharif and reaffirmed that the late journalist faced threats and false cases.

He was addressing a press conference after being summoned by the fact-finding committee formed to probe the murder of renowned late journalist Arshad Sharif.

He slammed the media for claiming that Arshad Sharif’s laptop was in his possession. He said that media ethics were violated during the threats and murder of the journalist.

He said Arshad Sharif was threatened and false cases were lodged against him after which he was forced to leave the country. He said still certain media houses claimed he had fled and pictures of him at the airport were leaked.

He said a media trial was being held even after the death of Arshad Sharif even though the journalist had himself expressed fear that unscrupulous elements could target him. He said Arshad Sharif had even said that he had written letters to the president, chief justice, and army chief of the threats to him.

While criticizing a statement of Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah, he said it was mistaken to assume that Arshad Sharif’s visa to UAE had expired. He said that Arshad Sharif’s personal items given to his family were not given in a sealed envelope.

He said that he learned from the media that FIA had summoned him in the case. He said the FIA should send him a formal notice and he will appear before the committee if they answer his questions.

He said the fact-finding committee, which has visited three countries to probe the murder, should answer why Arshad Sharif’s personal belongings were tampered with.

He said the committee should probe who lodged 16 FIRs against Arshad Sharif and who were the complaints, adding their call records should be checked. He said it should be probed who threatened Arshad Sharif and were displeased with his journalism.

Third, he said it should be probed who threatened Arshad at his house in Islamabad after which he was forced to leave the country. It added it also be probed who met Arshad at the hotel and forced him to leave Dubai, adding the officials worked at the Pakistan Embassy. Lastly, he said it should be probed who pressured ARY news to fire him.

He said Arshad Sharif’s mother had expressed a lack of confidence in the fact-finding committee. He appealed to the chief justice to form a commission and probe the high-profile murder.

He said people should raise their voices to seek justice for Arshad Sharif to find the perpetrators of the murder. He said a judicial commission should be probed to probe the murder.

He appreciated people for attending the rally in Rawalpindi, saying that they have given a message for the past eight months that Pakistan is a sovereign country and will not be enslaved.

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