The South Asian Free Media Association (SAFMA) and Media Commission-Pakistan have shown dismay over reports that a judicial panel probing into journalist Saleem Shahzad’s murder had failed to come out with a conclusion.
“The commission was supposed to submit its report within six weeks of its formation. However, six months down the line, its findings have shown little, confirming the fears expressed by the civil society and media rights organisations,” said SAFMA Secretary General Imtiaz Alam and MC-P President M Ziauddin in a joint statement.
They demanded an early release of the commission’s report.
The high-level judicial commission, headed by Supreme Court Justice Saqib Nisar, was formed to probe the killing in June last year.
The report, presented to the prime minister, has not held anyone responsible for the abduction, torture and murder of the journalist, according to Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists President Pervez Shaukat, a member of the probe. A June 16, 2011 Law Ministry notification said the terms of reference for the commission were: “To inquire into the background and circumstance of abduction and subsequent murder of Saleem Shahzad” and to “identify the culprits involved in the abduction and subsequent murder of the said journalist”. In addition, it aimed to provide recommendations to prevent the recurrence of such incidents against journalists in the future.
