Islamabad / Nairobi — Pakistan’s Federal Constitutional Court has refused to intervene in the murder case of exiled journalist Arshad Sharif, drawing strong condemnation from international press freedom watchdogs and effectively ending judicial oversight into one of the most high-profile journalist killings in recent years.
The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) said it was “deeply disappointed” by the court’s decision, warning that the move reinforces a culture of impunity for crimes against journalists in Pakistan.
Sharif was shot dead in Kenya in October 2022 under controversial circumstances after fleeing Pakistan, where he faced multiple legal cases and mounting pressure over his reporting. More than two years later, his killing remains unresolved, with no credible accountability in either country.
Press freedom advocates say the Pakistani court’s refusal to act sends a chilling signal to journalists, both inside the country and abroad, that powerful actors remain beyond scrutiny.
CPJ has called on authorities in Pakistan and Kenya to conduct a thorough, independent, and transparent investigation, and to prosecute all those responsible for Sharif’s killing, regardless of rank or influence.
The decision further intensifies global concern over Pakistan’s deteriorating press freedom environment, where journalists routinely face harassment, legal intimidation, exile, and violence — often without justice.
