Former prime minister and PTI Chairman Imran Khan has said that slain journalist Arshad Sharif was killed in a targeted attack and added that he had advised him to leave the country in view of threats to his life.
The senior journalist, who fled the country after he was charged with sedition, died in Kenya’s Nairobi after reportedly being shot, confirmed his wife early Monday.
The 49-year-old journalist fled the country in August to avoid arrest after he was slapped with multiple cases, including sedition charges over an interview with PTI leader Shahbaz Gill during which the latter had made controversial comments.
Alleging threats to his life, Sharif had moved to Dubai in August and later relocated to Kenya.
The untimely death of the journalist sent shock waves across rights organisations, the media fraternity and civil society and prompted calls for thorough investigation and disclosure of facts.
“He [Arshad Sharif] knew that his life was in danger. He was repeatedly receiving threats but he refused to give in… no matter what people call it but I know that this was a target killing,” Imran said while addressing a lawyers’ convention in Peshawar on Tuesday.
Calling Sharif “martyr,” the former prime minister said the “fearless and patriot journalist” remained unfazed in face of death threats and refused to compromise on his stance.
Imran claimed that he had advised the journalist to leave the country after he received information about his assassination plot.
Also read: Journalist Arshad Sharif shot dead in Kenya
The PTI chief said the slain journalist exposed the “corruption scandals” of the Sharif and Zardari families with evidence on his popular TV talk-show “but no one could dare to buy or scare him”.
The ex-premier said “they” wanted to bring back Sharif from abroad to subject him to mete out him the same treatment that PTI leaders Shahbaz Gill and Azam Swat received during detention.
“Allah has not allowed anyone to remain neutral. Without rule of law there is no difference between humans and animals,” he said pledging that come what may he will continue his struggle against thieves.
Imran said the country is currently standing at a crossroads and he was fully determined to hold a long march to Islamabad.
Source link: https://tribune.com.pk/story/2383424/i-advised-arshad-sharif-to-leave-country-due-to-death-threats-imran