Any loss of life, much less the brutal assassination of an innocent person in cold blood is deplorable and Saleem Shehzad’s murder should be seen in the same light. Notwithstanding the pain and trauma caused by his assassination, it is amazing to see the spate of propaganda unleashed by various media outlets against ISI without any solid grounds.
Saleem’s investigative bent of reporting took him in close contact with extremists of all hues and he was even once held hostage in Afghanistan by these elements. Why would one choose to discard the angle of the involvement of fanatical extremists to snuff out his life?
Also, as is being discussed, his last piece of reporting on Mehran so angered the security establishment that they decided to eliminate him. This is indeed highly jaundiced view of things. Why would the ISI be ruffled over this and what advantage would have accrued to them from his murder remains the cardinal question?
Saleem Shahzad has been assassinated at a juncture when the nation is wrangling with multiple internal and external threats and the ISI is in the spotlight. It is not conceivable that it would have chosen to compound its difficulties by targeting Saleem for no apparent reason.
The media needs to rationalise its response instead of heaping unsubstantiated blame on the ISI to the exclusion of all other factors.
GUL REHMAN WAZIR
Islamabad
