Pakistan

Saleem Shahzad killing: ISPR concerned over 'baseless insinuations' against ISI

ISPR says similar accusations against ISI proven wrong in the past.

Express June 17, 2011

ISLAMABAD: The Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) has expressed concern over “unfounded and baseless insinuations” on the involvement of the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) in the murder of journalist Saleem Shahzad, as reported by some sections of the media.

A statement released by the ISPR on Friday said that similar accusations had been against the intelligence agency in the past “but investigations proved those wrong”.

The statement also said that the ISPR supported the formation of a commission to investigate the murder of Shahzad and called for a thorough investigation, including disclosure of facts to the people.

Speculation that the ISI was linked to the slaying of Shahzad has added pressure on the agency, already facing criticism following the killing of Osama bin Laden in Abbottabad. The ISI had issued a rare media statement denying it was behind the killing.

“It’s regrettable that some sections of media have taken upon themselves to use the incident for targeting and maligning the ISI,” an official of the agency said.

Investigative journalist Shahzad was found dead near the Head Rasul area in Mandi Bahauddin, nearly 130 kilometres from Islamabad, after going missing from Islamabad.

The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan had earlier expressed alarm about Shahzad’s disappearance and described as “exceedingly disturbing” reports that he might have been abducted by a state agency.

COMMENTS (33)

Rabbani | 13 years ago | Reply You know what the funny part is ? Look at the comments that have been anti-india and pro-ISI, and look at how many people have recommended them. My guess is, there are some 'wailay' cadets, lieutenants , captains , majors , relatives of army personnel etc who keep trolling on the tribune website and every now and then, put up a pro-ISI-anti-India comment which is then 'recommended' by their fellow cronies. It's laughable, comments with 100+ and 200+ recommendations ? Pakistanis are NOT that dumb. And I am a Punjabi and this is important to mention because the army has always taken support from Punjab. And finally Punjabis have awaken to the atrocities the army has committed against our fellow countrymen. These gimmicks won't work. Rein them in and make them bow to the law, we aren't afraid of guns and bullets. I want a 'Hum seb ka Pakistan', not 'Faujion ka Pakistan'.

Moise | 13 years ago | Reply Now ISI know what real Taliban feels like; video being released, dissenters gets shot and CIA hell bent on destroying them.

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AD | 13 years ago | Reply @Haris Iqbal: Do you think Indians should keep away from Pak affairs?Indians are free voices for our Pak frnds.Indians are not controlled by Pak army have no fear of ISI and we have lots of frnds in Pakistan.By just naming the Ex-Indian land "Pakistan" can't take away the fact that we are son of great India.You and us.

hmm | 13 years ago | Reply @Sam: so vikram ashwin are now sam.........

Billoo Bhaya | 13 years ago | Reply @Haris Iqbal: Agree with you. The Indians are all over the place and your comments are appropriate.

syed | 13 years ago | Reply We respect ISI and Pak Army but I think enough is enough. They are not above law they dont have right for extra judicial killings. They should respect us ie pakistani nation. They enjoy luxurious lives because of our money in form of taxes. Plz respect human life and stop killing those who speak against you...

asif ilyas | 13 years ago | Reply Why the army and ISI is so worried about commission? if these allegations are baseless then why they issuing press realease.i think free and fair investigation should be carried out to find the real culprits behind a killing of saleem shahzad.His killeds should be made clear in front of nation but it is our old history to never show facts and figure to our nation as like in hamood ur rehman commission.

Good guy | 13 years ago | Reply As far as ISI and PAK ARMY is in command of Pakistan. India has to not worry ,as this two Institute make Pak more and more weak by killing own people.........Thank you ISI.........

Sam | 13 years ago | Reply @Wake up dude its people like you who needs to wake up ... If army, rangers, isi or GOP .. whoever doesnt do its job is to be criticized ... They all are servants of Pakistan we(who ever pays taxes) pay for their bread not they.

Pakistan Khan | 13 years ago | Reply LOL

Chilli | 13 years ago | Reply ISI if not involved in this killing are responsible for not eliminating terror elements from the country. If they put efforts seriously, they will be able to eliminate terrorists and wrong doers with in no time. Wake up and do your realy duty.

Wake up | 13 years ago | Reply The Arab countries' revolution started with self immolation of a vegetable vendor after being allegedly hit by a government official.....later on story snippets were added to sensationalize the happening like the claim that the person immolated due to desparation on being asked for bribes etc..........this had domino effect... In Pakistan some forces are trying to create same scenario by creating hatred in masses against Army, Rangers, ISI and Police..... We have had Kharotabad, Saleem Shahzad and Sarfraz....but still no replica of Arab spring has happened here....Reason our nation is wiser and does not act like sheep with domino effect...many amongst us know that all this is hatched conspiracy....but the media is going other way for profits...... wake up.....

iqbal | 13 years ago | Reply Whenever some indian abuses or alleges ISI of something, I feel that ISI is doing their job. That is their reason for existence; give a tough time to our enemies.

kulamarva balakrishna | 13 years ago | Reply Vienna,17-06-2011 LOL, Laoud Open Laugh but with a locked mouth!What a fun. It is easy to say Syed Saleem Shahzad went to the canal side for easing himself to get drowned there.Then the body floated down towards the slice gate. Then it is not murder,no suicide, but a mere accident.The autopsy could be explained away since the water flow in the canal need not go a set pattern. Body can be got hit several times.If bullet wounds are found there could have been a firefight with robbers before. -Kulamarva Balakrishna

qasim | 13 years ago | Reply one should not be so emotional that what ever comes in anyones mind he starts saying withoutits its implication.... no one is above law we all know but why at this point of time every one has realized that no one is above law... its just like people out side coutry who are hiting our institusions and trying to harm us

Ameer Hamza | 13 years ago | Reply There never has been any investigations? If there were, as the ISPR now claims, hundreds of Baloch families who sons were killed by our goons, would have witnessed evacuation orders for ISI and Punjabi-dominated Rangers / Army personal from Balochistan. This is one of the hundreds of documented events where very clearly ISI or other agencies of Pakistan have a clear hand. USA is right when it says it cannot any more trust ISI. Pakistani public also cannot much trust them, if they continue to kill our top journalists and common Baloch nationals. Pakistan Army, ISI, agencies and ISPR should sit and talk out a positive strategy. Pakistanis are too smart to fall in your trap any more. Or do what Chinese do: stop every good search engine from operating in Pakistan. And close down informative papers like this one. Otherwise, you (ISI / Army, etc.) don't stand a chance.

Mirza | 13 years ago | Reply ISPR should keep its mouth shut as it amounts to contempt of the court. Once the independent judiciary has been choosen to take up the case, no party especially the accused are not allowed to make any statement or influence the court. SC please make a note of this crude attempt of ISPR.

sumeet | 13 years ago | Reply there had been allegations against the ISI in the past but investigations proved them wrong.bloody jokers.silence is sometimes better than unnessary talk.

Haris Iqbal | 13 years ago | Reply @ both the indians above, GOD! dont you have a family, some business or a job and friends to live your life keeping yourself to india and its affairs? why are you so obsessed with Pakistan? Anyway we should do the analysis, If I assume that AlQaeda is a US proxy, based on that if Saleem Shehzad is killed i can track the trail. It exposes US and its network

TightDhotiti | 13 years ago | Reply Which investigations were these that proved that ISI is being wrongly accused?

Bangash | 13 years ago | Reply ISI considers itself above the law so how will past allegations be proven ? ISI/GHQ have to submit to the Law and the Constitution.

Siraj Ahsan | 13 years ago | Reply Army is behaving like a child complaining to his mother than boys are bullying him. Army is not used to the criticism which they rightly deserve. They have to wake up to the new reality and that is YOU ARE NOT ABOVE THE LAW! It is no more cold war and it is no more ZIA'S PAKISTAN where you can do what you want.

Nadeem Ahmed | 13 years ago | Reply Too late, but still its good move by ISPR. Its all allegations game without proof. Enemies of Armed Forces are enemies of Pakistan. If they don't shut up now, use the ususal tested method.

Babloo | 13 years ago | Reply Has anyone being arrested or any facts discovered about who killed Mr Saleem ? Or is the establishment busy catching those who noted down the number plates of cars visiting the 'sensitive compound in Abottabad ' ?

siddiqui | 13 years ago | Reply isi has seen long been on the back foot... journalists should tackle the self-styled masters of justice, i.e., lawyers... they are of definitely the same size...

Husein Ali Khan | 13 years ago | Reply Let an independent inquiry commission be set up hopefully chaired by a Judge of Supreme Court. Let them after investigation give their findings. Fiat justusia

Bilal Raza Qadri | 13 years ago | Reply Those who are pointing out the involvement of ISI in Saleem Shahzad murder have some points like erasing of phone call records and destroying other evidences like finger prints of the vehicle. So another statement addressing such things is also required.

Sam | 13 years ago | Reply and who could possibly remove saleem shahzad's phone records, their is no shame left in our establishment, thanks electronic media including twitters and facebook for building up some pressure. one can just pray to GOD that thy might learn something from their mistakes cos thy aint gona admit or charge anyone within isi for this murder. GOD Bless Pakistan.

Achtung Achtung | 13 years ago | Reply Proved wrong in past? When? Have there ever been any investigations after so many murders? or arrests? We have grown weary of murders and then closed files.

Feroze | 13 years ago | Reply The only agency that has the capability to erase phone records is the ISI. If they had nothing to do with SS's death why erase his phone records?

billo | 13 years ago | Reply What investigations have proved accusations against the ISI wrong? There has never been a public inquiry. When commissions have been formed, their results have not been made public. And we know the state of internal investigation in the military. They can't even bring to justice the soldiers involved in atrocities in Swat even when their actions are caught on camera! I can bet anything that even if a respectable commission is formed the ISPR and ISI will not properly cooperate with it.

Akthar | 13 years ago | Reply So the Alqaeda or RAW or CIA or Mossad has wiped off the telephone records? If they can even do that, what were you doing? Once again, the queation pops up, complicity or incompetence? We people saw what you people did in kharotabad, rangers in karachi, please, now please let us live in peace. Even the rangers killing, they lied, only after the video poped up, did they changed the version! Lies!

Rock | 13 years ago | Reply Lol. OMG. ISPR is issuing the most funny statement. What is there to worry about? the case is in the court let the law take it's own course. You just think about fighting the millitants. Is it ok now..? Chalo, now guard the borders.

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