PESHAWAR: Former Prime Minister Imran Khan claimed that slain journalist Arshad Sharif was not killed in road accident, but was “targeted and murdered”.

“He (Sharif) knew his life was in danger. He knew he was repeatedly getting warnings. He didn’t step back. I told him [to back down but] he wasn’t scared and then lastly, this targeted killing. No matter what people say, I know this was targeted killing,” Imran said as he addressed Sharif’s shocking murder at his speech at a lawyers’ convention here. Sharif on Sunday night died in Kenya reportedly after being shot, his wife Javeria Siddique had confirmed early on Monday morning. However, Kenyan police said Sharif was shot dead by police in a case of “mistaken identity”.

In his speech, Imran paid tribute to Sharif, calling him “a brave patriot who never compromised his conscience”. He also spoke about his immense respect and admiration for journalist. “Then I received information that they were about to kill him. They invaded his home and scared him in front of his family just so that he doesn’t speak truth,” Imran claimed, adding that he had then advised Sharif to leave country. “He refused to leave. Then, I told him that I have information, same way I had information about a plot to kill me.”

Published in The Daily National Courier, October, 26 2022

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