Arshad Sharif’s murder: Ahmed Jawad steps down as PM’s digital media focal person

ISLAMABAD: Disheartened by the assassination of senior anchorperson Arshad Sharif in Kenya, Prime Minister’s Focal Person for Digital Media Ahmed Jawad on Friday tendered his resignation from his post “on the voice of his conscience”.

His resignation comes on the day the PTI launched its long march towards the federal capital, demanding early elections amid raging legal battles with the ruling elite, stoking political turmoil in the country.

"The investigation into Sharif's slaying will also end like Liaquat Ali Khan's and Benazir Bhutto's assassination cases," Jawad said in his resignation and added, "Preparation is underway to shroud another truth for burial and commissions are formed here for that matter".

Jawad said he was quitting politics in response to the voice of his conscience "before Sharif's burial shroud starts getting soiled."

He also advised Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif that being a good man, the premier should salvage his afterlife by not becoming a part of that sin [of covering up the truth behind the journalist's murder].

 "You (PM) will be answerable for your deeds as a ruler on the day of judgement."

Jawad also urged PM Shehbaz to announce elections as soon as possible.

"I joined PTI when it was a ‘tanga party’ (novice) and left it when it was in power and the same is the case of his coming on PML-N's board and quitting it [today]," said Jawad in a Twitter post in which he shared the text of his resignation.

“My best service to politics is the introduction of new principles,” Jawad said in the same tweet.

He also announced his retirement from politics.

Jawad entreated the nation to stand by the truth and separate the lies from the truth. “It's time that youth listened to the voice of their conscience.”

"Neither the US, nor China, nor IMF, nor army, nor lies, nor your (PM) 24/7 hard work can save the country but the truth," the former aide to the prime minister said.

Jawad urged PM Shehbaz to immediately announce the date of the fresh elections.

"This country needs real independence. Seventy-five years on since the independence and we are still slaves. And nobody respects slaves. There's no point in worshipping rising suns as they all set soon."

He added that Arshad Sharif should be treated as a 'final reminder' for the country.

PM Shehbaz appointed PTI’s expelled former information secretary Ahmad Jawad on Aug 5, 2022, as his focal person on digital media and technologies.