The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) and the Intelligence Bureau (IB) on Tuesday wrote a letter to the Consul General of Pakistan in Dubai seeking information about slain journalist Arshad Sharif’s stay in the city earlier of his murder earlier this year.
Sharif was assassinated in Kenya on 24 October. Kenyan media initially quoted local police as saying that Sharif was killed by police in a case of “mistaken identity”.
But later Kenyan media reports reconstructed the events surrounding the assassination, stating that an occupant of Sharif’s car at the time of his assassination was believed to have fired at General Service Unit (GSU) officers. paramilitaries
The government subsequently formed a team that traveled to Kenya to investigate the murder.
It is pertinent to mention here that Sharif left Pakistan in August after several cases were registered against him. It was reported that he initially stayed in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and then went to Kenya.
PTI had earlier alleged that the journalist was “forced” to leave Dubai by Pakistan authorities. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, however, had dismissed these claims.
In today’s letter, a copy of which is available with Dawn.comthe FIA and IB said Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had formed a two-member inquiry committee to probe the journalist’s murder.
“In this regard, the team has already visited Kenya and is now looking for some leads in Dubai,” he said, asking the Dubai police authorities to help the investigating team with the following points:
- Copy of visa and travel related documents issued to Arshad Sharif
- Identification of Arshad Sharif’s place of residence during his stay in Dubai from August 10 to 20.
- Any CCTV footage, if available, of the premises.
- A movement mapping of Arshad Sharif during his stay in Dubai.
- Any information about anyone you met during your stay.
- Clarification on whether Sharif’s visa was canceled and if so, any reason.
- CDR (call data record) of Sharif’s phone, which was reportedly in use during his stay.
- Any data on arrivals and departures of Pakistani passport holders from August 10 to 20.
- CDR phone numbers of News ARY CEO Salman Iqbal and ARY chief operating officer Tariq Wasi.
- Any information on whether any UAE government official met with Arshad Sharif and asked him to leave the country.
The letter also asked Dubai authorities to appoint a local police focal point to “liaise” with the investigative team in Pakistan.