Journalist Arshad Sharif laid to rest at Islamabad graveyard

Late journalist Arshad Sharif was laid to rest at Islamabad’s graveyard amid sobs and tears on Thursday, reported 24NewsHD TV channel. 

Earlier, thousands of people, belonging to all walks of life, attended his funeral prayers at Islamabad’s iconic Shah Faisal Mosque amid tight security. 

Foolproof strict security arrangements had been put in place in and around the mosque to avoid any untoward incident during the funeral prayers of senior investigative journalist, who remained associated with several media organisations, including the ARY News, where his stay lasted eight years. 

Earlier, postmortem was conducted on late Arshad’s body by an eight-member medical board of the Pakistan Institute Medical Sciences (PIMS). 

Security arrangements

As many as 3,792 security personnel have been deployed to provide security to the funeral of late journalist Arshad Sharif that will be offered at Faisal Masjid in Islamabad at 2pm today, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.

Journalists, politicians and people from all walks of life will attend the funeral in large numbers.

Citizens have started reaching Faisal Masjid for the funeral while the security of the mosque has been tightened too.

The personnel of Islamabad police have been deployed, and they will be assisted by the contingents of Sindh police and the FC.

Three superintendents of police (SPs) and five assistant superintendents of police (ASPs) and deputy superintendents of police (DSPs) will supervise the security arrangements.

Moreover, six inspectors and 1010 constables will be deployed for security around Faisal Masjid. They will be assisted by 204 officials of Sindh police and 2,500 officials of the FC.

More doctors added to medical board

The medical board of radiology has been extended from seven to 15 members of specialists from PIMS hospital Islamabad to conduct autopsy and determine the medical report of slain journalist Arshad Sharif. 

The final report is likely to be released today. The board is headed by Prof Ayesha Isani. Other seven members included Associate Professor Dr Mujahid Raza, Associate Professor Dr Alia Ahmed, Assistant Professor Dr Zakia Shah, Assistant Professor Radiology Dr Samina Akhtar, Consultant Radiologist Dr Ghazala, and MO of PIMS Radiology Dr Sara Shahid.  

Probe team leaves for Kenya

The investigative team set up to probe the murder of journalist Arshad Sharif left for Kenya on Thursday.

FIA Director Athar Waheed and Intelligence Bureau (IB) Deputy Director left for Kenya where they will analyse the brutal murder from different angles.

Yesterday, Arshad’s mother, in her message, had urged everyone to visit her residence before going to the mosque for funeral prayers.

She had said that she wanted to say goodbye to her son in a befitting manner.

His mother also said that she could not explain in words, the support she had received from members of the journalistic fraternity following her son’s death.

Arshad, who was shot dead in Kenya, where he was living in self-imposed exile, around four days back, left five children, his mother and two wives to mourn his death.

He was awarded ‘Presidential Pride of Performance’ for his exceptional journalism in the year 2019.

Soon after the gruesome incident, the Kenyan police had first said that the journalist was killed in a case of “mistaken identity”, but later several Kenyan news outlets not only questioned the police’s conduct but also raised questions over the manner in which he was killed.

The martyr’s family has demanded a judicial inquiry and public hearings of the inquiry to reveal the “truth” behind his murder.

Reporter: Saud Butt and Rozina Ali