Intelligence Agency Gives Evidence to Shahzad Inquiry

September 29, 2011

Intelligence Agency Gives Evidence to Shahzad Inquiry

The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) keenly awaits the recommendations of the judicial commission inquiring into the abduction and murder of Syed Saleem Shahzad in Pakistan in late May, following this week’s historic statement to the commission by the country’s intelligence agency.

On September 27, Brigadier Zahid Ahmad Khan, sector commander at the Directorate of Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), submitted a written statement to the commission and answered questions on camera.

He had been asked to respond to allegations of involvement in Shahzad’s abduction leveled against the intelligence arm of the Pakistan military.

The ISI statement was highly anticipated in view of reports that Shahzad was threatened and detained by ISI operatives in October 2010. In late May, ISI said it was absurd to allege that the agency or its operatives were involved in Shahzad’s killing.

The president of IFJ affiliate the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ), Pervaiz Shaukat, said today it was the first time in Pakistan’s history that ISI had been summoned and appeared in a court of law.

Khan is scheduled to appear again before the commission on October 4.

Shaukat, who is a member of the five-man commission headed by Supreme Court Justice Saqib Nisar, said: “All the institutions are cooperating with the commission and it is hoped that within two months the commission will submit its final report.”

Established on June 16 after country-wide demands led by the PFUJ, the commission was given six weeks to submit a report on its findings by early August. An eight-week extension was granted recently, with a report due to be delivered next week.

However, the commission has requested a further extension as Pakistani police are still investigating data from Shahzad’s phone which may provide clues to his abduction. Shahzad’s laptop computer has not been recovered, and officials at Pakistan’s Federal Investigation Agency have told the commission they are unable to access Shahzad’s email accounts.

Justice Nisar has expressed concern that despite the outcry among journalists across Pakistan demanding the independent inquiry, several senior journalists summoned to make statements have sought a postponement or say they are not available.

Shahzad, 40, who worked for Asia Times Online and Italian media outlets La Stampa and Adnkronos, disappeared in Islamabad on May 29, two days after he published an investigative report on Asia Times Online into alleged links between Al-Qaeda and Pakistani naval officials.

His beaten body was found about 150km southeast of Islamabad on May 31.

The IFJ represents more than 600,000 journalists in 131 countries

Find the IFJ on Twitter: @ifjasiapacific

Find the IFJ on Facebook: www.facebook.com/IFJAsiaPacific

ENDS

© Scoop Media