News
Thursday, June 02, 2011
US condemns killing of Shahzad, welcomes launch of investigation
WASHINGTON: US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has condemned the abduction and murder of a Pakistani journalist who had written about alleged links between the Pakistani military and al Qaeda.
“The United States strongly condemns the abduction and killing of reporter Syed Saleem Shahzad,” she said in a statement. “His work reporting on terrorism and intelligence issues in Pakistan brought to light the troubles extremism poses to Pakistan’s stability,” she said.
Clinton said Washington welcomed Pakistan’s launch of an investigation into the killing.
Shahzad, 40, who worked for an Italian news agency and an online news site registered in Hong Kong, went missing on Sunday. His body was found 150 kilometres southeast of Islamabad.
He disappeared two days after writing in an investigative report in Asia Times Online that al Qaeda carried out last week’s attack on a naval air base to avenge the arrest of naval officials suspected of having links to the group.
Ali Dayan Hasan, senior South Asia researcher at Human Rights Watch, said Shahzad had complained about being threatened by Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) agency.
Pakistani Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani ordered an inquiry into the kidnapping and murder, pledging that the culprits would be “brought to book”.
Meanwhile, the United States embassy in Pakistan also condemned the abduction and murder of Shahzad.
“We extend our condolences to his family and friends. This atrocity is an affront against Pakistan’s free press and democratic institutions. Mr Shazhad’s reporting on terrorism and intelligence issues brought to light the threat extremism poses to Pakistan’s peace and stability. We deeply admire his commitment to following the truth wherever it led him, in accordance with the highest principles of his profession,” a statement issued by the embassy said. agencies
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk