UN Expert Calls for Accountability in Killing of Pakistani Journalist Arshad Sharif

Sharif was fatally shot by Kenyan law enforcement at a roadblock in Nairobi in October 2022, an incident described by security officials as a case of mistaken identity.

A UN expert emphasized today that Kenyan and Pakistani authorities must intensify their efforts to thoroughly investigate the killing of Pakistani journalist Arshad Sharif in Kenya and prosecute those responsible, following a landmark ruling by a Kenyan court.

“It has been nearly two years since Arshad Sharif’s tragic death, and several months since the Kenyan High Court delivered a historic judgment declaring his killing ‘unlawful,’ ‘arbitrary,’ and ‘disproportionate.’ Yet, none of the police officers involved in the shooting have been arrested, and no charges have been filed by Kenyan prosecutors,” stated Irene Khan, the Special Rapporteur on freedom of opinion and expression.

Sharif was fatally shot by Kenyan law enforcement at a roadblock in Nairobi in October 2022, an incident described by security officials as a case of mistaken identity. On July 8, 2024, following a civil suit filed by Sharif’s family, the High Court of Kenya in Kajiado ruled that the use of lethal force in his death was “unlawful and unconstitutional.” The court ordered the Kenyan state to compensate Sharif’s family 10 million shillings (approximately $77,500).

Khan remarked, “The High Court judgment represents a significant victory; however, its true impact will only be realized if both governments ensure that those responsible for Sharif’s killing are brought to justice.”

A Pakistani state-sponsored fact-finding team concluded in December 2022 that Sharif’s death was a planned and targeted assassination by transnational actors. Sharif had previously fled Pakistan to escape arrest on charges of maligning national institutions and due to threats to his life. In October 2023, UN experts urged both Kenyan and Pakistani authorities to conduct full investigations into the circumstances surrounding his killing and the charges that led to his exile.

“Justice for Mr Sharif and his family will remain elusive until the full circumstances of this murder are clarified, including whether it involved a transnational crime, and all responsible individuals are identified, prosecuted, and punished in both Kenya and Pakistan,” Khan asserted.

In February 2023, a Joint Investigative Team established by Pakistan’s Supreme Court reported that Kenyan authorities had denied them access to crucial evidence and the crime scene, effectively stalling their investigation.

“I urge both the Kenyan and Pakistani governments to summon the political will necessary to ensure full accountability and bring those responsible for Arshad Sharif’s murder to justice, so this case can serve as a landmark reference in the fight against impunity for the killing of journalists,” Khan concluded.