Journalist killing: Officials face action
Pictures showing ‘torture marks’ on Arshad Sharif’s body leaked from hospital
The inquiry committee constituted by the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) in Islamabad will question officials over the leak of autopsy pictures of senior journalist Arshad Sharif, who was killed in mysterious circumstances in Kenya on October 23.
The pictures showing ‘torture marks’ on Sharif’s body were featured in a TV show.
The PIMS management has also decided to approach the Pakistan Electronic Regulatory Authority (Pemra) to take action against the TV channel for airing the disturbing images taken during postmortem at the hospital.
Who will be summoned
According to an inquiry committee report, the officials summoned by the committee include Hospital Director Dr Khalid Masood, Medical Board Chairman Dr S H Waqar, Medical Director Dr S Hashim Raza, members of the medical board, Director IT Mohammad Sohail and Cameraman Medical Board Mohiuddin.
Dr Masood said it was premature to say how the pictures were leaked and went viral on social media.
On the delay in issuance of the postmortem report to Sharif’s family, Dr Masood said the family did not contact him initially and the application was submitted to the office of the Joint Executive Officer (JEO).
“Arshad’s family did not contact me and there was no truth in the news run by electronic media that the family was contacting me since the first day,” he said. “The family only contacted me on November 10 and I sought a clarification from the JEO.”
He said the JEO informed him that the postmortem report was shared with the police on the very first day.
Shot dead in Kenya
Sharif was shot dead by Kenyan police near Nairobi on October 23 in an alleged case of “mistaken identity”.
While investigations were underway to probe Sharif’s death, several TV channels claimed that the journalist was tortured and shot at close range after he was asked to step out of his car.