On Monday, the US State Department encouraged Kenyan authorities to conduct a thorough investigation into the events leading up to the shooting of Pakistani journalist Arshad Sharif on the outskirts of Nairobi, the country’s capital.
According to a Kenyan police report, Sharif was killed in Kenya when police on the lookout for auto thieves opened fire on the car he was riding in as it passed through their roadblock without stopping.
The Star, a Kenyan newspaper, was informed by a senior police officer that the incident was being investigated as a case of mistaken identity. There was a great deal of criticism and calls for an investigation into the journalist’s death.
Officials, journalists, and others in Pakistan responded to the illegal killing in large numbers on social media.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif posted on Twitter, “I am very saddened by the horrific news of journalist Arshad Sharif’s untimely death,” and former PM Imran Khan concurred, “Sharif was assassinated for his journalism.” He demanded that the incident be the subject of a legal investigation.
Ned Price, a spokesperson for the State Department, was questioned about the incident during a news conference and demanded an investigation.
“We support the Government of Kenya conducting a thorough investigation into his passing. We encourage a thorough inquiry even though it’s unclear at this point exactly what caused his death, the spokesperson added while expressing sympathy to the grieving family and the Pakistani media community.
“We’re devastated by Arshad Sharif’s passing.”
The American official was also questioned about how the US supported international journalists who were under threat.
Ned Price stated that while it was challenging for him to provide any specifics regarding what we could do with a specific person, we do have programs in place around the world that are intended to strengthen protections for people who are exercising another universal right, the right to freedom of expression and the right to information.
And it is evident from his work that Arshad Sharif traveled the world in pursuit of that basic freedom of expression. The world was familiar with his work.
He noted that USAID has several programs to collaborate with governments all over the world to support those rights and independent media.
