Tens of thousands attend funeral of killed Pakistani journalist

Tens of thousands attend funeral of killed Pakistani journalist

Tens of thousands of mourners attended the funeral of TV journalist Arshad Sharif
Tens of thousands of mourners attended the funeral of TV journalist Arshad Sharif. Photo: Aamir QURESHI / AFP
Source: AFP

PAY ATTENTION: Click “See First” under the “Following” tab to see Briefly News on your News Feed!

Tens of thousands of mourners attended the funeral Thursday of a Pakistani journalist shot dead by police in Kenya after he fled arrest in his home country.

Arshad Sharif, a strident critic of Pakistan's powerful military establishment and supporter of former premier Imran Khan, died when Kenyan police opened fire on his car at a roadblock outside the capital at the weekend.

Sharif had fled the country in August to escape sedition charges, and his death triggered widespread speculation in Pakistan that he was targeted for his views.

Kenyan officials say Sharif's death was a case of mistaken identity as officers thought they were firing on a stolen vehicle involved in an abduction.

The funeral at Islamabad's main mosque drew up to 40,000 mourners, according to police at the scene, with people spilling into the gardens and surrounding streets.

Read also

Iran president says Amini 'riots' pave way for attacks

Many media figures attended, but supporters of Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party made up a large proportion of the crowd, waving flags and chanting "Arshad, your blood will bring revolution".

PAY ATTENTION: Follow Briefly News on Twitter and never miss the hottest topics! Find us at @brieflyza!

"Arshad Sharif sacrificed his life to expose the faces of the corrupt and we should not let that sacrifice be for nothing," said Muhammad Iqbal, a 35-year-old shopkeeper and PTI supporter who had travelled from the neighbouring garrison city of Rawalpindi.

Samina Qureshi said PTI supporters came "to vent our anger against the military which has manipulated politics throughout".

After prayers, coffin bearers struggled to push through the crowd to a waiting ambulance for onward passage to a graveyard.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday ordered an inquiry into the killing, only for a senior intelligence official to withdraw from the panel hours later.

Read also

Iran security forces 'open fire' as thousands mourn Mahsa Amini

Arshad Sharif fled the country days after interviewing opposition politician Shahbaz Gill, who said junior officers in Pakistan's military should disobey orders that went against "the will of the majority".

The comment led to the news channel being briefly taken off the air and an arrest warrant for Sharif.

Gill was detained following the interview, and Khan's criticism of the judiciary over the detention led to his own appearance in court.

Pakistan has been ruled by the military for several decades of its 75-year history and criticism of the security establishment has long been seen as a red line.

It ranks 157 out of 180 countries in a press freedom index compiled by Reporters without Borders, with journalists facing censorship and intimidation.

The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan said the establishment had "a long, grim record of violent tactics to silence journalists" and Sharif's killing had "sent shock waves through the journalist community".

PAY ATTENTION: Сheck out news that is picked exactly for YOU ➡️ find the “Recommended for you” block on the home page and enjoy!

Source: AFP

Authors:
AFP avatar

AFP AFP text, photo, graphic, audio or video material shall not be published, broadcast, rewritten for broadcast or publication or redistributed directly or indirectly in any medium. AFP news material may not be stored in whole or in part in a computer or otherwise except for personal and non-commercial use. AFP will not be held liable for any delays, inaccuracies, errors or omissions in any AFP news material or in transmission or delivery of all or any part thereof or for any damages whatsoever. As a newswire service, AFP does not obtain releases from subjects, individuals, groups or entities contained in its photographs, videos, graphics or quoted in its texts. Further, no clearance is obtained from the owners of any trademarks or copyrighted materials whose marks and materials are included in AFP material. Therefore you will be solely responsible for obtaining any and all necessary releases from whatever individuals and/or entities necessary for any uses of AFP material.