Arshad Sharif’s 'premeditated murder’ conspiracy hatched in Pakistan, claims Faisal Vawda

ISLAMABAD: PTI leader Faisal Vawda Wednesday shared details of slain journalist Arshad Sharif's death, claiming it to be a "premeditated" murder whose planning was carried out in Pakistan.

Addressing a press conference at Islamabad Press Club, Vawda — who claimed that he was a close friend of the slain journalist — said that as against the version of the Kenyan police, Sharif was shot at from a close range within the car.

The PTI leader said that Sharif’s “murder” was now a matter of Pakistan’s dignity and honour, therefore, “I will speak the truth without fearing the consequences because his martyrdom was a pre-conspired murder, not a mere accident.”

He claimed that Sharif’s murder was planned in Pakistan and all pieces of evidence have been erased. “One will not be able to find Sharif’s mobile phone or laptop because all of it has been destroyed,” he said, lamenting about the procedure of justice in Pakistan and Kenya — where he claimed conditions are worse than that of Pakistan.

Vawda decried claims of “mistaken identity”, saying that it wasn’t like that 20 bullets were fired and one hit Sharif mistakenly. “In my opinion, two bullets were fired at him, one to the head and the other to the chest by a person sitting in the car or present at a very close range,” he stated.

He explained that bullets cannot be fired from a long range when it directly hits the head and chest, if it would have been from far away, then 8-10 bulled would have been fired.

“The story that has been narrated regarding the mistaken identity case should have been plotted well because no matter which country is in question, the police would never open fire if they had (as they claim) doubts of a child being present in the car,” he added, stating that in this case, only Sharif died as a part of this “cold-[blooded], planned, brutal murder that was conspired.”

'Recorded video with names of those involved'

The PTI leader said that he won’t name the people involved in the crime. “I have made a video and have given names of those people […] I have given those names internationally. I have given millions of dollars. I have a clear message, if I am shot and killed then you’ll be killed too.”

He maintained that Sharif was "chosen to be killed in Kenya by those who want to break the country."

Vawda also claimed that he was constantly in contact with the journalist till the very last day, adding that he is ready to hand over his phone for forensics to verify the authenticity of his statement. 

"Conspirators" blackmailed and threatened Sharif to leave Pakistan, so he went to Dubai, he said. "Later, it was claimed that either the establishment or some unknown institutions pressurised him and asked him to leave Dubai, but this information is false. I will give you details of it later."

The PTI leader said that Sharif completed his stay in Dubai until the expiry of his visa and later, it was reported that he went to London. "However, he did not go to London either."

'Informed Imran Khan about conspirator'

Vawda said that a person was "conspiring" against Sharif and he has informed PTI Chairman Imran Khan about this "conspirator".

Sharif was an honest person, "but the conspiracy that he was informed about had another conspiracy behind it".

He said that a common man could not send Sharif to Kenya from Dubai. "These are the people who wish to see instability and chaos in the country. This wasn't a plain death. It was a cold-blooded murder."

Vawda stated that he is ready to share evidence with the Military Intelligence and Inter-Services Intelligence, adding that he would share further details related to Sharif's murder in the coming days.

Claiming that neither the establishment nor any politician was involved in this, he said that the current establishment would be “very foolish if it would have planned something.”

The PTI leader said that the journalist was in contact with the establishment and he was ready to come back to the country, but some people were feeding him a "conspiracy".

Vawda said that when Sharif was ready to come back to Pakistan, the "conspirators" thought that it was better to have him killed as his presence would lead to several truths being unfolded.

"You might ask how would I know such things? Well, I was in contact with Sharif until the very last moment and I am ready to hand over my phone for forensic analysis to any global agency," the ex-minister said.

Vawda said that the players behind the "conspiracy" were in Pakistan, adding that Sharif had a positive relationship with the establishment — "and I was a part of these conversations."

The PTI leader said the people behind this "conspiracy" were not far from his reach.

'Deaths will take place in long march'

The former minister said that the long march — set to kick start from Lahore on October 28 (Friday) — would witness bloodshed, death, and funerals.

"These funerals will definitely be held, but I will try until my dying breath to save my Pakistanis from sacrificing their lives for a conspiracy hatched by some people. I will try to end this politics of death and bloodshed in this country."

Vawda said that "important and common" people's deaths will take place in the long march, adding that there were "ulterior motives" behind the march to Islamabad.

He said that several deaths will take place before and during the long march as the motive is to "divert the attention" so that the nation "would start seeing things in black as white".