Senior journalists recommend JC to summon spy agencies
ISLAMABAD: Senior journalists of the country, on Saturday, recommended to the judicial commission, probing journalist Saleem Shahzad’s murder, to summon spy agencies officers during next hearing of the case.
The meeting was held with Supreme Court (SC) judge Justice Saqib Nisar in the chair, while Federal Shariat Court Chief Justice Agha Rafiq, Islamabad Inspector General of Police (IGP) Binyamin, Punjab IGP Javed Iqbal and Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists President Pervez Shaukat attended the hearing.
The commission, in the last session, held at the SC Lahore Registry, had finalised 16 names of the journalists and others, including Talat Hussain, Hamid Mir, C R Shamsi, Zahid Hussain, Imtiaz Alam, Umar Cheema, Najam Sethi, Matiullah Jan, Naseem Zehra, Zafar Sheikh and Ali Dayan of Human Rights Watch to give details, if any, regarding the murder of Shahzad. However, Talat Hussain, Hameed Haroon and Ali Diyan Hassan did not turn up.
The commission also directed these senior journalists to submit their written statements regarding the incident by Friday.
Senior journalists of the country were called upon to share information regarding murder of the journalist with members of the commission.
Atif Khan, a journalist, submitted the CD containing footage of Shahzad’s dead body in Mandi Bahauddin.
It is very unfortunate that except Mattiullah Jan, other eminent journalists, who telecast talk shows on Shahzad’s murder, didn’t submit written statements.
They have been asked to submit their written statements by Friday before the next session, which would be held on Monday (July 18).
Sources informed Daily Times that Amir Hamza, brother-in-law of the late Saleem Shahzad, had expressed dissatisfaction over investigation in the hearing, and said that police was not serious about the matter, adding three meetings had taken place, but still no solid evidence could be provided to the commission. The commission also sought Mandra, Jhelum and Mandi Bahauddin’s toll plazas record along with CCTV footages from the National Highway Authority on July 18.
The investigation officer based in Mandi Bahauddin was also directed to appear in person along with complete investigation record regarding Shahzad’s murder case. Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) submitted record of telephone calls of the murdered journalist to the commission.
Shahid Nadeem Baloch, Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) additional director, while giving briefing the participants, informed that agency was tracing Blackberry mobile phone belonging to Shahzad but it could have an access to his email account.
Justice Saqib Nisar, who is head of the commission, directed police to ensure protection of media men in the country.
He also ordered the police to provide protection to Faizan, Atif Khan, Dawn reporter, and Amir Hamza, brother-in-law of Shahzad.
Source: Daily Times
Date:7/10/2011
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