Salman Iqbal has demands UN Human Rights Office investigate Arshad Sharif's death

Salman Iqbal has asked that the UN Human Rights Office lead an independent investigation into the death of senior journalist Arshad Sharif.
Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah levelled unfounded allegations against him during his press conference today.
He was accused of sedition and subjected to many FIRS before he finally decided to leave Pakistan.

Salman Iqbal, the president and CEO of ARY Digital Network, has asked that the UN Human Rights Office lead an independent investigation into the death of senior journalist Arshad Sharif.

Mr Salman Iqbal published his response on Twitter after Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah levelled unfounded allegations against him during his press conference today.

He tweeted few Hours ago where he demanded freee and fair investigation through UN Human Rights Office not by the PML-N government. Here is the tweet below:

My statement. #ArshadSharifShaheed @UNHumanRights #pfuj pic.twitter.com/7D2o58ng7t

— Salman Iqbal ARY (@Salman_ARY) October 28, 2022

We had no doubt that the death threats against Arshad were real. He made repeated written requests to the appropriate branches of government for assistance.

He was accused of sedition, subjected to many FIRS, and issued arrest warrants before he finally decided to leave Pakistan. We supported his decisions as friends and colleagues, thus our office assisted him with his travel arrangements as is customary. A better question might be, “Since when is supporting a buddy illegal?”

Mr. Salman Iqbal has criticized the current administration’s negative campaign against him.

Since he took office in April 2022, the government has been spreading false rumours about him, labelling him a gold smuggler and an arms dealer. Maryam Nawaz launched the initiative, and it has been carried on by the present government ministers.

Numerous First Information Reports (FIRs), arrest warrants, and a sedition case have been issued against me by the FBR, FIA, PEMRA, and SECP as part of a coordinated political onslaught. Due to the PMLN government’s unfair assaults on me and its persecution of journalists, I have been afraid to return to Pakistan for the past six months.

The Interior Minister’s latest outrageous accusations about my involvement in Arshad’s death are part of a larger effort. I want to be very clear that I had nothing to do with the brutal attack on my brother.

I’m upset and shocked that the government hasn’t constituted a committee yet, and instead has held many press conferences where ridiculous accusations have been made about me being involved in a plot. Iqbal added, “Any attempt to politicise his death in this way is reprehensible.”

The current government, led by the Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz, has come under fire from the President & CEO of ARY Digital Network for their handling of the investigation into the murder of Arshad Sharif (PML-N).

It has been suggested that I take part in the inquiry regarding Arshad’s death. I have my doubts about the impartiality of the current PMLN government’s probe, but I’m happy to answer any questions that may be posed to me.

“I am calling for an impartial investigation monitored by the UN Human Rights Office and will of course provide my full cooperation to any such investigation aiming to get to the real truth behind the killing of Arshad Sharif with a view to bringing those responsible to justice,” he said.

The prominent journalist and former host of ARY News, Arshad Sharif, was murdered in Kenya, where he had taken refuge.