Condemning the murder of journalist Saleem Shahzad, members of the National Assembly Standing Committee on Human Rights on Friday announced forming a special committee to probe the extrajudicial killings.
Addressing a press conference at the National Press Club (NPC), Standing Committee on Human Rights Chairman Riaz Fatiana – flanked by Javed Hashmi of the PML-N, Farahnaz Ispahani of the PPP and Atia Inayatullah of the PML-Q – said the proposed committee would compile a detailed report on six high-profile cases, including killing of seven Christians in Gojra in 2009, killing of seven people in police firing in Abbottabad last year, brutal murder of two brothers in Sialkot, killing of a family of five by FC men in Khrotabad in Quetta and abduction and killing of journalist Saleem Shahzad in May this year and the latest killing of Sarfraz Shah at the hands of Rangers in Karachi this month.
He said the special committee would present its report in parliament within 15 days. Fatiana urged the stakeholders to provide equivalent powers of Anti Terrorism Court (ATC) to the said committee. He said Adviser to President Farahnaz Ispahani would head the committee.
Speaking on the occasion, Hashmi said the government had not adopted a proper channel to form a commission to probing the killing of Saleem Shahzad.
He strongly condemned the killing of 74 journalists, saying the murder of journalists was the worst violation of the human rights. He said the special committee would be helpful to serve the justice to the victim’s families.
Farahnaz Ispahani said, “Due to the wrong mindset of the people towards the government, the public always criticises us even if we want to express solidarity with them.”
