Pakistan Foreign Office denies writing to Dubai authorities for Arshad Sharif’s handover

ISLAMABAD: The Foreign Office on Friday rejected reports doing rounds on social media that Pakistan had formally written to Dubai authorities for the handover of journalist Arshad Sharif to Islamabad.

“No such letter, undersigned by the foreign minister, was written to the Dubai government, nor does the minister undertake these communications. There is no truth in those reports,” the FO spokesperson Asim Iftikhar said during a weekly briefing.

Replying to a question, the spokesperson said the Pakistan and Kenyan authorities were in close contact and “we will have to wait for the findings of the investigation”.

“The foreign office regrets the demise of Arshad Sharif,” Iftikhar said, adding, “His [assassination] was a serious issue.”