Pakistan Army has requested the government to hold a high-level inquiry into the killing of journalist Arshad Sharif.

This was stated by Director General Inter-Services Public Relations Lieutenant General Babar Iftikhar in an interview with a private TV channel on Tuesday.

He said it is regrettable that some elements are levelling unfounded and baseless allegations on state institutions and there is a need to put such speculations to an end through a transparent and a thorough probe. He said it should also be probed under which circumstances Mr Arshad Sharif had left the country, who forced him to go abroad and where he stayed.

He said it is very unfortunate that some elements start hurling allegations on the state institutions on the basis of tragic incidents like the death of Arshad Sharif. He said we have also requested the government to take strict legal action against those, who are hurling baseless allegations on the institutions without having any evidence.

Responding to a question, Babar Iftikhar said we are all sad on the untimely death of Arshad Sharif. He said Arshad Sharif was a thorough professional and had a distinction in investigative and war reporting.