NAIROBI: An expert in Kenya who analyzed post-mortem examination findings of prominent journalist Arshad Sharif has discredited reports of torture, as publicized and circulated in media across Pakistan.
The report from Kenyan expert came just a day after statement by the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA), which is leading the probe, saying their findings showed so far police were involved in the shooting, and the incident was indeed a case of ‘mistaken identity’.
Also read: Kenyan police dismiss torture claims in Arshad Sharif’s murder
Arshad Sharif, 49, a reporter and TV anchor with Ary TV, had fled to Kenya after he was booked on charges of sedition and peddling an “anti-state” narrative earlier this year. He was shot and killed on October 23, 2022, at a police roadblock in an incident that was initially reported as case of ‘mistaken identity’, however, sparked speculations and a blame game.
Also read: PIMS Director confirms torture marks on Arshad Sharif’s body
Just two days back, a Lahore based TV channel, believed to be quite close with the ruling class in Pakistan, aired a program showing pictures of slain journalist Arshad Sharif’s body with torture marks and removed nails.
Local publication Nation Africa reached out to Dr Ahmed Kalebi, an independent consultant pathologist based in Nairobi, who analysed the two post-mortem examination reports to explain the cause of death.
Also read: Arshad’s family rejects PIMS Director’s claims about autopsy report
Dr Kalebi explained that the probable time that lapsed between injury and death was between 10 and 30 minutes. He further said “the authors of the (autopsy) report simply state that the likely time interval between the time when the deceased suffered the bullet injuries to the brain and right chest, and the time he died, is likely 10-30 minutes.”
“Whereas the report doesn’t elaborate on the reasoning behind the time interval from injury to death, it appears that this estimation was made on the basis of the injuries seen in the brain and the right lung rather than any particular histopathological examination or further scientific examination analysis,” Dr Kalebi explained.
Also read: Arshad Sharif shot in head and chest: autopsy report
He further said “the report has not documented any evidence of other injuries that would be consistent with torture, nor does it indicate that the deceased was tortured before death,”
It may be added here that In Kenya, the post-mortem examination was conducted by Chief Pathologist Dr Johansen Oduor while in Pakistan it was conducted by a team of eight led by Prof S H Waqar, a surgeon and Head of the Department of General Surgery at Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences.
