Saleem Shahzad Murder: IFJ rejects terms for inquiry

At least four more Pakistani journalists killed in connection with their work this year.

FAISALABAD: The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) on Wednesday rejected the government’s terms for appointing a judicial commission to investigate the abduction and murder of Saleem Shahzad, and called for an inquiry led by the Supreme Court.

“Permanent appointments to the Supreme Court are made by the president on the recommendation of the chief justice. Justices of the Federal Shariah Court are appointed by the government on an ad hoc basis for a limited tenure of three years,” the IFJ said in a statement, adding that, “Journalists in Pakistan have voiced outrage since Shahzad’s body was found about 150km from Islamabad on May 31. Shahzad had disappeared on May 29, two days after publishing an investigative report about alleged links between al Qaeda and Pakistani naval officials”. According to reports, at least four more Pakistani journalists have been killed in connection with their work this year.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 16th, 2011.