LAHORE:
Senior intelligence officers were questioned on Tuesday by a judicial commission which is investigating the murder of journalist Saleem Shahzad.
Officers from the Inter-Services Intelligence Agency (ISI) and the Intelligence Bureau (IB) are under
investigation for Shahzad’s mysterious disappearance and death.
“The questioning went on for five hours and the commission has asked them to file written replies within ten days,” the commission’s secretary Taimour Azmat told reporters after the commission’s meeting at the Supreme Court’s Lahore Registry.
When asked whether or not commission was satisfied with the answers submitted by the officers, he said it
was too early to say anything. “The commission will examine their written replies
and form its opinion,” he said.
To a question about who the questioned officers were, he said that they were brigadiers and deputy inspector-generals.
Azmat said that a summary had been moved requesting an extension in the time given to the commission. However, he said, the time period’s lapse will not affect investigations. The commission will now meet on September 5.
The commission is headed by Supreme Court Justice Saqib Nisar while members include Chief Justice of the Federal Shariat Court Agha Rafiq Ahmad, Inspector-General of Islamabad Police Bani Amin, Inspector-General of Punjab Police Javed Iqbal and President of the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) Pervaiz Shaukat.
Shahzad, who was the bureau chief of the Hong-Kong-based Asia Times Online, was reported missing from Islamabad on May 30 and within 24 hours, his body was found in Mandi Bahauddin with marks of torture. Intelligence agencies were blamed for the killing.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 17th, 2011.
COMMENTS (8)
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Mr. Khalid Masood is living in 1965 its not his fault . . . . or may be lately reading too much Zaid Hamid or Ahmed Qureshi
@Bangash, blaming ISI for his murder is a conspiracy theory itself.
A powerful person is involved in his murder as Saleem phone records were removed from the system. After pressure from the media, mobile record was provided but with important data missing. His car was also moved in a very professional way. Another senior journalist was abducted and tortured for writing against ISI.
Yes, lately CIA has been trying to malign ISI name and one need to be careful against American propaganda but ISI is shooting itself in the foot by acting like a criminal. Help solve this case and clear your name. Our ISI is turning into KGB..lets keep the pressure on ISI.
Enemies of Pakistan and vested interests have succeeded in maligning ISI we all need to wake up and look around
@Khalid Masood plz.........look at facts and not some conspiracy you dreamed up last night.
Whoever are found guilty should be hanged from a prominent position to serve a lesson to all. Especially if they are members of the security services.
ISI is one the best Int Agency.
It wont leave traces, like that, leading to their front door.
It is a fix up created by enemies of Pakistan in order to malign ISI and weaken Pakistan.
Try to understand........................plz