Seeking Answers: An interview with Aleeza Arshad on the First Anniversary of the Tragic Death of Her Father, Investigative Slain Journalist Arshad Sharif

Arshad Sharif was a Pakistani journalist, writer, and television news anchor. His area of expertise was investigative journalism, and he covered several national and international news organizations' coverage of the nation's political events, including those in the United Kingdom. Arshad Sharif, a Pakistani journalist, was shot and killed in Kajiado, Kenya, by local police on 23 October 2022.

An interview with Aleeza Arshad on the First Anniversary of the Tragic Death of Her Father, Investigative Slain Journalist Arshad Sharif

Aleeza Arshad, the daughter of late Pakistani journalist Arshad Sharif and I had a short Zoom interview where we reminisced on his first death anniversary and reciprocated fond memories of him, indulging deep into the incidents leading to his murder. Aleeza expressed how she is keeping her father’s legacy alive and decided to pursue media studies by making her first debut on the same news channel as her father. We talked about how the entire family expressed a profound commitment to diligently scrutinizing the matter, highlighting their unwavering attention to the case. We also emphasized how crucial it is to work transparently and enquired as to how much assistance or collaboration Pakistani intelligence agents and Kenyan officials had provided them in their pursuit of justice. 

Date: 12/04/2023

The interviewer: Nishwa Tasavvar

The interviewee: Aleeza Arshad

Questions and Responses

Nishwa Tasavvar: Please share any fond memories of your father Arshad Sharif, both as a journalist and as a family member.

Aleeza Arshad: As a journalist, my dad was very passionate about what he did. It's fascinating how the proprietor of the neighborhood bookshop learned about his interests in literature and would alert him to new releases. Since he was an investigative journalist, he started work early. He would delve into newspapers and conduct extensive studies for his case studies even before leaving for the workplace.

NT: Considering the fact that you have chosen media studies, were you always interested in this field or did you switch your interests from something else to media in pursuit of following the footsteps of your late father.

AA: I am currently studying media studies and I chose this field when he was still alive. I still am not sure if I will be able to pursue this field or not, but when I look at it in retrospect, I was always engrossed in the political happenings in the country and the press media. I did not consider it as a profession, but after my father passed away, I entered ARY news as an internee to take a closer look at broadcasting and how it works. And I’m hopeful that I will end somewhere as a journalist.

NT: Now that you have entered this field, where do you see yourself as a journalist about 10 years from now?

AA: I'm still not in the professional league yet, so entering this industry feels like a huge step. But you know, I can see myself walking into my father's shoes if I take that risk. As a journalist for broadcast, perhaps even continuing his program in the future. It's only an idea, you know.

NT: In the initial investigation, the Kenyan police described Arshad Sharif's shooting as a 'mistaken identity.' From your perspective, has there been any progress in their investigation since then? Also, how does your family perceive the current status of the case?

AA: As a family, we've always believed it to be a well-planned murder rather than a standard instance of mistaken identification. Our concerns were reinforced when a Pakistani fact-finding team was formed, and then officials were sent to Kenya to conduct investigations, which proved that the act was, in fact, premeditated. There was no evidence of impact on the automobile seat he was in, despite the reports clearly stating that he had a gunshot in his lungs. This clearly implies that he was shot somewhere else and then purposefully positioned inside the vehicle to give the impression that his identification was confused.

We persistently appealed to the Supreme Court for assistance and support as we pursued justice. As a result, the Chief Justice held three or four case procedures after taking Suo motu notice. But the process appears to have stopped when we were last called, which was about six months ago.

NT: I've read about the serious accusations made by your grandmother against senior Pakistani intelligence officers regarding your father's murder. Could you share your perspective on these allegations and how they've impacted your family, especially considering the significance of this day?

AA: My grandmother and mother made a written public statement and I think from it, it’s pretty evident why those accusations were made. Every accusation made had a reason and a base to it. And it’s easy to scale the grounds on which certain accusations were made.

NT: There have been mentions of warnings and threats that Arshad Sharif received. How did your family interpret these threats, and was there any attempt to seek protection or support?

AA: The entire story started in March 2022, in tandem with a government shift. This became the main focus of my father's program, revealing those parts of it that were dissatisfied with the new government. As a retaliation, they deluged him with FIRs—a standard strategy, especially from Pakistani regions like Pishin and Chaman.

Because of his close ties to Pakistani intelligence, my father was frequently alerted to possible kidnappings while traveling to and from court appearances. No significant action was taken despite the threats being made public and the authorizations being sent to relevant authorities, including the Supreme Court, COAS, and the Government of Pakistan. He was restricted to Islamabad during his final days there, only going from his house to his office. With the way things were going, he was forced to leave Pakistan. 

He knew there were conspiracies against him, from kidnapping to pretextual disappearances, therefore his original goal was to come back after two weeks. But then things took an unexpected turn. The same people that unsettled him in Pakistan followed him to Dubai. He was thus advised to depart Dubai immediately, which prompted him to seek safety in Kenya.

NT: When was the last time you or your father spoke with each other? Could you also tell us what his last thoughts were? Were there any new developments or pieces of evidence in the case?

AA: He kept in touch with my mother on a regular basis, and I last spoke to him two or four days prior to his murder. He didn't usually encumber us with the specifics of his profession. While we were chatting about life in general during our previous conversation, he asked how I was doing with my academics.

NT: I understand that an inquiry committee was formed by Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif, and later, a two-member team investigated the case in Kenya. What are your expectations from these committees, and have there been any updates or findings shared with your family as we commemorate this difficult anniversary?

AA: In my opinion, the only timely action taken by the government in relation to the murder of my father was the formation of these fact-finding committees, which did turn up a good deal of information. A Joint Investigation Team (JIT) was then established. The fact that this JIT is being formed by the same people my father wrote letters to for support and requested asylum from, nevertheless, is depressing. Considering the inherent prejudice in the JIT's makeup, we do not hold high hopes for an impartial investigation from these panels given their possible complicity in the murder.

NT: I would like to know your thoughts about the public reaction in Pakistan and abroad? How did the people view this case in your country and especially in Kenya?

AA: We were genuinely surprised by the enormous response, since we had not expected it. I can clearly remember how crowded our home was with guests as soon as the news of my father's death broke—there wasn't even room to stand. The funeral was conducted in Faisal Masjid, which can accommodate up to 3.5 lac people. The mosque wasn't the only place with traffic; the nearby roads were also congested. People from all around the world showed their sympathy with us on social media, and the outpouring of support was immense. The event was widely covered by foreign media. The outpouring of love and support we have received still overwhelms us.

NT: Shifting the focus, a bit, I can only imagine the profound impact your father's death has had on you and your family. How have you been coping with this loss, and are there specific challenges you've faced on this day of remembrance? Additionally, if there's a message you'd like to convey to the international community regarding your father's case, what would it be?

AA: The first shock of it all was very difficult to process; it was almost dreamlike, and it was very hard to believe. But as time went on, we came to feel comforted by the idea that he was living a life with a deep meaning. He had a big influence in the field of media by realizing that everyone has a certain amount of time to live. Being his daughter will always make me proud because he spoke out for the voiceless in a manner that no one else could. It gives me a lasting sense of pride.

Still, there's a noticeable gap in his absence. The absence of a loved one is accompanied with an unreplaceable emptiness. There will always be a gap in my life from my constant need for him. While I have mixed feelings about him being in a better place, I can't help but feel a part of me longs for him to come back. It's difficult for me to put into words how I feel; my sentiments are deep. His absence will be deeply felt, especially at those happy times in life that we want to spend with our loved ones, especially our parents.

NT: As you just did your first broadcasting debut with ARY news, was there any moment you felt like you needed to move out of this country that took your father away?

AA: Not really, I don’t want to leave the place where my father is buried. I think this thought will never let me leave this country.

NT: I appreciate your openness in sharing your experiences. Before we conclude, is there anything else you would like to add or share, Aleeza?

AA: I want to appeal for assistance from the outside world because I think the government might not be impartial and I don't think a fair probe can take place in Pakistan. Everyone, please stand up for my father and make an effort to organize a delegation of nations. We can identify the true perpetrator of this to him in this way.

We came to an end of the conversation, and I conveyed my sincere appreciation to Aleeza for sharing her thoughts and personal observations so freely, especially on this very special one-year anniversary of her father Arshad Sharif's tragic death. We acknowledged the common path of life and education with each other and with pleasant words. Aleeza's viewpoint was crucial in shedding light on the continuous pursuit of justice in the Arshad Sharif case. It is my humble desire that this family get the worldwide justice they deserve.