Arshad Sharif, a senior Pakistani journalist was shot dead by police officers manning a roadblock along the Nairobi-Magadi highway. The police say it was a case of mistaken identity after the journalist failed to identify himself prompting a chase and a shooting.

Sharif’s car rolled after the shooting leaving him dead and his driver fatally injured. The driver was rushed to hospital where he is in ICU. The police say they had mounted a roadblock to intercept a similar car which had committed  child abduction in Pangani, Nairobi.

Police have confirmed the incident and promised to issue a comprehensive statement later.

“We had an incident of shooting which turned out to be a case of mistaken identity involving a journalist. We will release more information later,” the National Police Service said in a statement.

News of this incident spread like wild fire in Pakistan where Sharif is a celebrated journalist. His wife took to twitter to announce the tragic news.

“I lost friend, husband and my favorite journalist [Arshad Sharif] today, as per police he was shot in Kenya,” she tweeted.

Sharif’s wife Javeria Siddiqui also urged the media to accord the slain  journalist’s  family respect and not to share their family pictures, personal details, and Sharif’s last pictures from the hospital on social media.

Following news of his death, messages of condolences started pouring out to the family. PTI chairman and former Prime Minister Imran Khan expressed his condolences over the death of journalist Arshad Sharif.

President Dr Arif Alvi termed Sharif’s death a loss for journalism and Pakistan.

“May his soul rest in peace and may his family, which includes his followers, have the strength to bear this loss,” Alvi said.