Hundreds of people gathered at the Islamabad Airport to give a heroic welcome to journalist Arshad Sharif after his body reached Pakistan. Sharif was shot dead in Kenya on the night of 23rd October.
The entire senior leadership of Pakistan Tehreek-I-Insaf and other citizens reached the airport to receive his body. Videos of people gathered outside the airport are making rounds on social media. His family reached the airport to receive his body. They escorted the convoy carrying the coffin of Arshad Sharif and showered it with rose petals. The crowd chanted slogans of ‘Allah-o-Akbar’. A vigil was organized at Lahore’s Liberty Chowk to commemorate his work as an investigative journalist in Pakistan.
Visitors expressed deep sorrow over the death of Pakistani journalist Arshad Sharif. His surviving wife, Javeria Siddique, expressed her sorrow and grief. “Finally, I reunite with my husband @arsched after months, but he was in a coffin and noor smile on his face. I try to wake-up him up but no response,” said Javeria in her tweet. She also asked people not to share pictures and videos of his children on social media. Javeria requested to respect the privacy of the family and this time when the entire family is mourning.
Read more: Arshad Sharif was killed in ‘targeted attack’: Imran Khan
Finally I reunite with my husband @arsched after months but he was in coffin and noor smile on his face. I try to wake-up him up but no response.
— Javeria Siddique (@javerias) October 25, 2022
Plane carrying Arshad Sharif's dead body has landed Islamabad Airport. pic.twitter.com/t0YMrptR2F
— Saith Abdullah (@SaithAbdullah99) October 25, 2022
Dead body of slain prominent Pakistani journalist #ArshadSharif reached his home country. Hundreds of people gathered at the airport at midnight to receive the brave journalist coffin pic.twitter.com/nIJPJPLg8J
— The South Asia Times (@thesouthasiatim) October 26, 2022
https://twitter.com/ramazanizoltr/status/1585019509198401536?s=20&t=GkNZQqKHSMl3yNW3A1582w
Tears, anger and roses as the remains of Pakistani journalist #ArshadSharif, killed in Kenya, arrive home pic.twitter.com/HsXNzhRJGQ
— Sana Jamal (@Sana_Jamal) October 25, 2022
#ArshadSharifShaheed #قوم_کا_ہیرو_ارشد_شریف
Source BOL news pic.twitter.com/dqtJNUxhJZ
— Ahmed Khair (@Deen_Gah) October 25, 2022
His death has sent shockwaves across Pakistan. Human rights organizations, civil society, and the media fraternity are pressing the government for a thorough investigation into his killing. Arshad Sharif had fled the country in August after being charged with sedition charges. Multiple cases and FIRs were slashed against him forcing him to flee the country to avoid arrest. He briefly stayed in UAE, after which he flew to Kenya.
His killing has caused a storm in Kenya and Pakistan. The Kenyan media is raising some hard-hitting questions on his killing and the claims of ‘mistaken identity’ made by Kenyan Police.