Journalist’s assassination: Sharif demands Shahzad murder probe commission
SAFMA organises a condolence reference in memory of slain journalist.
LAHORE:
Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) chief Nawaz Sharif urged the Supreme Court of Pakistan to take a suo motu notice of journalist Saleem Shahzad’s murder and demanded the government to set up a commission to probe the incident.
While addressing Shahzad’s condolence reference at the South Asian Media Centre here on Friday organised by South Asian Free Media Association (SAFMA), Sharif said the PML-N would ensure that Shahzad’s murderers are arrested.
“We will not tolerate breaching of law, torture of journalists and suspension of the constitution in the future,” he said.
“The Abbotabad Operation conducted by US, Mehran Naval airbase attack in Karachi and drone attacks are all outcomes of our weaknesses and negligence, however, we have to take serious notice of these incidents” he added.
Sharif said “the situation of Pakistan is a tale of lost ideology. The army budget should be discussed in the cabinet. A house committee should be established for the accountability of the security institutions.”
“If we let them do whatever they think is right for the country, we’ll face more killings like this,” he added.
The event was arranged to pay tribute to the martyred journalist and probe the causes behind his death.
Meanwhile, South Asian Media Commission (SAMC) secretary-general Najam Sethi formed a commission, Media Commission Pakistan, to monitor attacks on media personnel and safeguard the freedom of press. The commission will pursue ongoing cases and audit the content of media, besides proposing a code of ethics, said a press release issued by the SAFMA here on Friday.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 11th, 2011.
Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) chief Nawaz Sharif urged the Supreme Court of Pakistan to take a suo motu notice of journalist Saleem Shahzad’s murder and demanded the government to set up a commission to probe the incident.
While addressing Shahzad’s condolence reference at the South Asian Media Centre here on Friday organised by South Asian Free Media Association (SAFMA), Sharif said the PML-N would ensure that Shahzad’s murderers are arrested.
“We will not tolerate breaching of law, torture of journalists and suspension of the constitution in the future,” he said.
“The Abbotabad Operation conducted by US, Mehran Naval airbase attack in Karachi and drone attacks are all outcomes of our weaknesses and negligence, however, we have to take serious notice of these incidents” he added.
Sharif said “the situation of Pakistan is a tale of lost ideology. The army budget should be discussed in the cabinet. A house committee should be established for the accountability of the security institutions.”
“If we let them do whatever they think is right for the country, we’ll face more killings like this,” he added.
The event was arranged to pay tribute to the martyred journalist and probe the causes behind his death.
Meanwhile, South Asian Media Commission (SAMC) secretary-general Najam Sethi formed a commission, Media Commission Pakistan, to monitor attacks on media personnel and safeguard the freedom of press. The commission will pursue ongoing cases and audit the content of media, besides proposing a code of ethics, said a press release issued by the SAFMA here on Friday.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 11th, 2011.