More on Shahzad
In a first of its kind on-the-record allegation by a high-ranking US official, Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Adm Mike Mullen has said he believes the Pakistani government ‘sanctioned’ journalist Saleem Shahzad’s killing, adding that he did not have a “string of evidence” directly linking the death to the ISI. A few days before Mullen’s admission, the New York Times had also reported that the Obama administration had new intelligence implicating senior ISI officials in the attack on Shahzad. The Pakistan government has slammed these allegations, calling Mullen’s statement “extremely irresponsible.” Shahzad disappeared two days after writing an investigative report saying Al-Qaeda carried out the PNS Mehran attack to avenge the arrest of naval officials held on suspicion of links to the global terror network. The ISI has since denied any involvement in the incident, saying Shahzad’s death was being used to malign the agency’s reputation.
A commission led by a Supreme Court judge has been set up to investigate Shahzad’s death. Anyone who has anything to share on the subject at the national or international level should do so with the panel. This applies to the Americans as well: if they have real information to help fix culpability for Shahzad’s murder, they should promptly share it with the inquiry commission, rather than making allegations in the media either through ‘anonymous senior officials’ or on the record. If the US is genuinely interested in seeing justice being done it should share information through the right forum and not make off-handed accusations — that will only worsen ties between Pakistan and the US — and be perceived as the pressure tactics of an annoyed ally. On the other hand, the intelligence agencies, if they are truly innocent, need to facilitate the investigation and, above all, to demonstrate that they are capable of, and willing to, reform, and work under civilian oversight and within the law. For a security establishment trained to project overwhelming power but not to expect accountability, this is the time to set precedents. As for the government, it must find the courage to press for reform. So far, it has blown every chance to correct the decades-old wrongs.
Source: The News
Date:7/9/2011
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