Kenyan High Court Declares Journalist Arshad Sharif's Killing Unlawful

 Kenyan Court Rules Arshad Sharif's Killing Unconstitutional, Orders Compensation and Charges Against Police

Sharif, a strong supporter of former prime minister Imran Khan, was shot in the head by Kenyan police in October 2022. He had left Pakistan in August 2022 due to multiple sedition charges against him. After initially staying in the UAE, he went to Kenya, where he was killed.

Sharif's widow, Javeria Siddique, and two journalist groups in Kenya filed a complaint about his "unlawful killing" and the failure to investigate it properly.

On Monday, a Kenyan High Court rejected the police's claim that they mistook Sharif's car for a stolen vehicle. Judge Stella Mutuku ruled that Sharif's killing was unconstitutional and violated his rights. The court ordered the government to pay compensation and instructed the authorities to finish their investigation and charge the two officers involved.

Siddique expressed gratitude for the support and emphasized the importance of the ruling for journalist safety. She noted that while she got justice in Kenya, justice was still needed in Pakistan.