On the first anniversary of senior journalist Arshad Sharif's murder in Kenya, his family has sought an international probe, given that his killers have yet to be traced a year after the murder.
An investigative journalist and television anchor, Sharif had been murdered in an alleged 'police shoot-out' in Kenya. Sharif had fled to Kenya, seeking refuge from prosecution and threats in Pakistan.
The Kenyan police deemed it a case of "mistaken identity" in a shoot-out with whom they suspected were criminals who operate actively in the African country.
However, Sharif's family primarily pointed fingers closer to home and deemed it an assassination.
His family have said that a year after his murder, the perpetrators have yet to be arrested, whether in Pakistan or Kenya, while little progress has been made in the legal case.
"I appeal to international organisations to help me get justice for Arshad Sharif," urged his second wife, Javeria Siddique, while speaking with journalists rights' body Freedom Network.
She urged global media rights bodies to investigate her husband's murder as they have probed cases of other journalists.
Her appeal comes days after it emerged that she had moved the high court in Kenya, suing the local police for her husband's murder.
"Journalism is not a crime. Those doing journalism must be protected, and international media rights bodies are obligated to defend journalists," she said.
Meanwhile, in a post, owner of the television network for whom Sharif worked, refuted as "baseless" the allegations of involvement and assured that he would look after the slain journalist's children.
Exactly a year ago tonight i received a phone call which changed my life for ever. It was about my brother Arshad Sharifs assassination in Kenya. Having been in the news business for over 23 years this was a story which was the most difficult one to break , should i tell the…
— Salman Iqbal ARY (@Salman_ARY) October 22, 2023