Pakistan

Saleem Shahzad: SC summons federal secretaries over commission formation

CJ hears PFUJ petition requesting the court to form a high-powered commission, hearing adjourned till June 20.

Express June 17, 2011

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Friday summoned the Secretaries of Law, Interior and Information over an application filed for the formation of a commission to inquire into journalist Saleem Shehzad’s murder.

The application filed by Supreme Court Bar Association President Asma Jehangir requests the court to form the commission. The application has been filed on behalf of the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ), who rejected the commission filed by the government on Thursday.

The government's nominee to head a commission to probe journalist Saleem Shahzad’s murder, Supreme Court judge Mian Saqib Nisar, refused to lead investigations shortly after his nomination on Thursday.

Nisar said he would not undertake the job because Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani did not consult Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry prior to nominating him, in violation of established judicial norms.

After the proceedings, Asma Jehangir told the media that the request for a high-powered commission is justified. She said only intelligence agencies have the capability to erase cell phone records, adding that the inquiry commission must be formed with the consultation of the Chief Justice of Pakistan.

A three-member bench headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry heard the application and adjourned the hearing till June 20.

Hundreds of journalists from across the country marched on the Constitution Avenue in the federal capital on Wednesday before staging a 24-hour sit-in next to the Parliament House, demanding that the government form a judicial commission headed by a Supreme Court judge to probe the killing of Saleem Shahzad.

Saleem Shehzad who was the Asia Times Online Pakistan bureau chief was kidnapped from Islamabad on May 29. His body was found from Mandi Bahuddin on May 31.

COMMENTS (11)

haris | 13 years ago | Reply @Shamsi Ajanee: I strongly support your comments. Late Wali Khan was also one of the victims of brutal and fiercest Intelligence agencies of Pakistan. In fact, his whole family was killed so there should an investigation all over it.

ILOVE | 13 years ago | Reply I wonder why the CJP Iftikhar Ch never said a word on Raymond Davis issue despite of the fact that a mockery was made of all the Pakistani laws in that case. Raymond Davis and rangers officials who killed Sarfaraz Shah essentially committed similar crime but Raymond was tried under normal laws (that too bent to favour him) and the rangers officials are being tried under Anti Terror Laws. So called Human Rights organisations incl Asma Jahangir all kept mum on Raymond issue otherwise they cry hoarse over every issue concerning army.

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pakistan | 13 years ago | Reply @Mehreen i am agree with you.

Imran | 13 years ago | Reply SC more interested in the issues regarding commission formation. CJP setting his scores and playing politics over the murder of a citizen.

Nazar | 13 years ago | Reply The in-charge responsible for deleting phone call record must be investigated.

Haris Iqbal | 13 years ago | Reply @Mehreen: Why not Mehreen, after all they are doing and can do whatever fancies them, Zardari has given all freedom to his beloved guests here making it all worse for the intelligence agencies to work like hell trace people like Raymond Davis.

kulamarva balakrishna | 13 years ago | Reply Vienna,17-06-2011 It is all about the rule of law, that avoids arbitrariness.Even the Prime Minister is bound to avoid arbitrariness as a short cut to please the gallery.The Prime Minister´s arbitrariness helps the arbitrary rangers, or arbitrary Inter Services Intelligence as was in this case.Sialkot was the worst case where mob´s arbitrariness was endorsed by the arbitrary law enforcement agency personnel. It is sad. A shame for a nation. -Kulamarva Balakrishna

Mehreen | 13 years ago | Reply When US embassy in Islamabad can get a highly top-secret recording of the Parliament in camera session which was not supposed to be made public, cant US pay a few bucks to an operator to erase records and blame it over FIA/IB./MI/ISI ?

Shamsi Ajanee | 13 years ago | Reply This will be an excellent step by the Supreme Court. I hope even Wali Khan Babar incidence is included in terms of this commission when formed

Sultan Ahmed | 13 years ago | Reply Horrible act has been committed in this case. Erasing phone calls,has opened new ways leading to the killers.

Sultan Ahmed | 13 years ago | Reply Petition has been filed in the apex court by the president of SCBA,no doubt is a good step toward a right direction. As for as phone calls erasing is concerned it has opened new way of investigation. It is an admitted fact that Saleem Shahzad was murdered,after killing his body was thrown in the canal. It is a brutal act humanity and the law give no permission of such barbarian act.

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