It’s been more than 150+ days since Arshad Sharif’s death and still, no action is taken place on his brutal murder by top Pakistani authorities. Do you remember why he was killed?
A REMINDER- WHO WAS ARSHAD SHARIF?
Arshad Sharif was an investigative journalist on the renowned Pakistani channel ARY NEWS. In his almost 15 years of journalism, he worked as a reporter also. He went to country borders + far-away areas for reporting, where it is difficult to go normally.
He was an amazing investigator and analyst who, according to his colleagues, never say anything without proof in hand. He used to believe in proper facts and figures, proofs, documents, and historical records rather than mere assumptions and predictions. He was a practical man and love his profession. His many tweets were used as evidence or research gates, even after he died.
Read more: Journalism Is Not A Crime- E2
In April 2022, after the regime change in Pakistan, the situation started worsening in the country. All those who talked against this regime change started getting life threats and Arshad was one of them.
As mentioned above, he was a man of proof and facts & figures, we believe that whatever stance he took at that time, would be accurate. He definitely would have proofs for whatever he was supporting. Like every journalist, every Pakistani, or every common human being, he had his own opinion and viewpoint.
But what happened next, was never okay for him, this country, and the people living here. Many journalists were harassed, arrested, kidnapped, and tortured for their viewpoints and opinions. Arshad was so fearless, brave, loud, and vocal in his stance that he lost his job on the channel.
Things didn’t stop there and he had to leave the country, as he was getting strong death threats. He went to Dubai and after a few days, on getting pressure from the country’s top officials, he left that place and went to Kenya. But, it didn’t work for him, as he was continuously followed by his killers. Consequently, on 24th Oct 2022, he was brutally killed and the killers are still unknown.
The point here is not only about the mysterious killing of a man in a foreign country. The questions are about the freedom of speech and freedom of opinion in a democratic country. The question is about justice which is still missing for Arshad, even after 4 months. Besides, the insensitivity of the Pakistani journalist community, except a few journalists, is more astonishing and heart-breaking.
Recently, the supreme court of Pakistan made a JIT on Arshad Sharif’s Murder Case, after taking Suo-moto action. That Joint Investigation Team (JIT) sent its members to Dubai and Kenya for knowing the facts about this case. Unfortunately, it proved to be a big failure on the part of the whole judicial + political system of the country, as the team came out with “no clues” of killers, even after spending several days in both, Dubai and Kenya.
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Right now, the case is still in the Supreme court but seems fruitless. There are so many other declines and devastations going on in the country that this case seems losing its importance. However, the lovers of Arshad Sharif, his fans, family members, friends, colleagues, and a few journalists, are still waiting for justice for him. Besides, Imran Khan also, in his Jalsa at Minar e Pakistan, on 25th March 2023, didn’t forget to give tribute to the best investigative journalism of Arshad Sharif.
ROUGH TIMELINE OF PAK POLITICS IN LAST YEAR
To highlight the timeline of the political events in Pakistan in the last year, here is a short list as a record.
- PDM Protests- February 2022
- Cypher Controversy – March+April 2022
- No-confidence motion against Imran Khan- 8th of March 2022
- Pakistani constitutional crisis – 3 April 2022
- Imran Khan removed from the post of Prime Minister of Pakistan through a no-confidence motion, by parliament – 10th April 2022
- Shehbaz Sharif is sworn-in as the Prime Minister of Pakistan – 11th April 2022
- Azadi March-1; Imran Khan announced the Long March to Islamabad – 24 May 2022
- Massive Shelling on long march Protesters, Injuries, killings – 25 May 2022
- The Election Commission of Pakistan announced verdict of the PTI foreign funding case- 2nd August 2022
- Arshad Sharif left Pakistan- 10 August 2022
- Pakistani audio leaks controversy- 24th September 2022
- Arshad Sharif killing – 24 October 2022
- Azadi March 2- 28 October 2022
- Imran Khan Assassination Attempt- November 3rd, 2022
- Pervaiz Elahi, the Chief Minister of Punjab had dissolved the 17th Provincial Assembly of Punjab- 14th January, 2023
- Mehmood Khan, the Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa dissolved the 11th Provincial Assembly of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa – 18 January 2023
- Death of Pervez Musharraf, former president, and army chief – 5th February 2023
- Jail Bharo Tehreek – 22 February 2023
- Killing of Ali Bilal aka Zille Shah (PTI Supporter, special person) – 8th March 2023
- Minar e Pakistan Jalsa of Imran Khan – 25th March 2023
Among these events, there are many other small happenings including the political victimization of Pakistani journalists that are still going on. A few days ago, Siddique Jan, a renowned journalist on BOL NEWS was arrested without any solid and logical reason, and released later on. Right now, PTI’s most important persons, Azhar Qazi Mashwani and Hassaan Niazi are under illegal arrest and abduction.
Meanwhile, general elections that were announced to be held in April 2023, are now postponed to October 2023. Do u think it is a good decision by the government? Is PDM really scared of PTI’s popularity in the country? Yes, or No, do tell us in the comment section.
