Saleem Shahzad’s murder: Commission records additional statements

Commission seeks extension in deadline to submit report.

LAHORE:

A judicial commission probing the murder of journalist Saleem Shahzad recorded statements of All Pakistan Newspapers Society (APNS)president Hameed Haroon and Human Rights Watch director Ali Dayan on Wednesday. During the proceedings, Haroon and Dayan claimed to have received an email from Shahzad - highlighting threats to his life - days before his murder.

The commission headed by Supreme Court Judge Mian Saqib Nasir reviewed records of the emails presented by All Pakistan Newspapers Society (APNS) president Haroon and Hassan.

“Shahzad had expressed concerns about threats to his life in the emails which have been found to be authentic,” Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists President Pervez Shaukat said while talking to the media after the proceedings.

Shaukat said the commission will take some more time to complete its investigation. He said that the commission may record statements of journalist Najam Sethi and Shahzad’s widow at the next hearing.

Responding to a query Shaukat said the commission is working independently and “fearlessly” and is under no pressure. He also said that the FIA has submitted a report on Shahzad’s cell phone data. However, it has not been able to decode his emails yet.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 11^th, 2011.