Journalist community ended protest sit-in in front of the Parliament House early Thursday following the announcement
by Minister for Information and Broadcasting Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan that Prime Minister has set up a commission headed by Supreme Court judge Justice Saqib Nisar to conduct inquiry into killing of journalist Syed Saleem Shahzad.
Saleem Shahzad was abducted from Islamabad by unknown persons on May 27 and his body was recovered from a canal near Mandi Bahauddin on May 31.
While addressing journalists’ sit-in Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan announced that addressing the reservation of the media community, the Government has nominated a judge of Supreme Court to head the commission for conducting inquiry into the murder of Saleem Shahzad so they should end their sit-in.
Minister for Information and Broadcasting Dr. Firdous Ashiq Awan said that the people’s government fully believes in freedom of media, as free press was prerequisite for genuine democracy. She assured that journalists would be provided maximum security in performance of their professional duties.
According to the notification, Justice Saqib Nisar would head the commission. Other members of the commission include Justice Agha Rafiq, Chief Justice of Federal Shariat Court, Additional Inspector General (Investigations) Punjab Police, Deputy Inspector General Islamabad Police, while President Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists Pervez Shaukat will represent the media community in the commission. The commission has been asked to furnish its report within six weeks.
The secretariat of the commission would be set up in Ministry of Information and Broadcasting and it will start its work immediately.
Pervez Shaukat, President Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ), on the ocassion formally announced to end of sit-in protest by journalist community. He thanked all journalists for participating in the sit-in. He appreciated the efforts of Dr. Firdous Ashiq Awan for resolution of the matter and for supporting their cause.
