Pakistan’s DG ISPR, ISI chief hold unprecedented press conference on journalist’s murder

In a rare move, the head of Pakistan’s Inter Services Public Relations and the country’s Inter-Services Intelligence chief addressed a joint press conference today. Lt. Gen. Babar Iftikhar and Lt. Gen. Nadeen Anjum said they wanted to present the “true picture” of the murder of journalist Arshad Sharif in Kenya earlier this week.

During the press conference, Anjum and Iftikhar said Sharif’s death was “tragic” and the facts of his death need to be determined. They said no evidence has been found so far of a “foreign conspiracy”. 

On his possibly first public appearance, Daily Times quoted ISI chief Anjum as saying he “cannot remain silent when they [his institution and officers] are targeted for no reason”.

Sharif, an investigative journalist, was shot dead by the police in Nairobi on the night of October 23. His wife confirmed the news on Twitter.

Sharif was an outspoken critic of the Pakistani military and left the country two months ago after facing multiple cases, including sedition. 

The Kenyan police called it an “unfortunate incident” that was being investigated for “appropriate action”. Pakistan’s prime minister Shehbaz Sharif announced the formation of a committee to probe the murder.

Meanwhile, former prime minister Imran Khan said Sharif’s murder is part of “ongoing targeting of anyone who dares criticise or question those holding power”.

Just this week, an aide to the Kenyan president announced that two Indian nationals, who had been missing for three months, had been killed by a now disbanded “special forces unit”. Zulfikar Ahmad Khan, the former COO of Balaji Telefilms, and his friend Mohamed Zaid Sami Kidwai had been part of the president’s social media team, the Hindu reported.