‘Journalism lost a great one’: Sajal Aly, Muneeb Butt and other stars mourn the loss of journalist Arshad Sharif

Tributes have begun pouring in after the tragic death of Pakistani journalist Arshad Sharif who was shot dead in Kenya. His wife confirmed his demise via Twitter early on Monday.

Sharif, who was a fierce critic of the incumbent government and the country’s establishment, had left Pakistan earlier this year after sedition cases were registered against him in different cities. Authorities of both countries have yet to confirm the death and the circumstances surrounding it. Some Pakistani media outlets had initially stated that Sharif was shot dead but later said he died in an accident. However, his wife later tweeted that the journalist was shot dead in Kenya.

She requested people to respect their privacy by not sharing family photos, personal details or Sharif’s last photos from the hospital “in the name of breaking” and asked them to remember her and Sharif in their prayers.

Several Pakistani celebrities took to social media to pay tribute to the late journalist.

“Arshad Sharif, we’re ashamed,” wrote Actor Muneeb Butt on Twitter.

The Sinf-e-Aahan actor Aly also tweeted for the late journalist.

Music producer Rohail Hyatt penned a small prayer for Sharif.

Beginning with a prayer, Adnan Siddiqui wrote, “Arshad Sharif, a voice of reason in all the ‘breaking news’ clutter. Balanced, fair and objective — just how journalists are expected to be. Journalism lost a great one.”

Singer Haroon Shahid also tweeted for the journalist with a tense emoji and in a follow up tweet asked his followers to unite and become one to fight back.

Former premier Imran Khan had said the journalist “paid the ultimate price for speaking the truth - his life. He had to leave the country & be in hiding abroad but he continued to speak the truth on social media, exposing the powerful. Today the entire nation mourns his death,” and demanded a proper investigation.

President Dr Arif Alvi, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, PTI Secretary General Asad Umar, Senator Azam Swati, PPP MNA Nafisa Shah and fellow journalists Kashif Abbasi, Hamid Mir, Meher Bokhari, Maria Memon and others had shared their sorrow at Sharif’s death and sent prayers for the deceased and his family.