JUNE 02, 2011 Freedom Forum has been shocked at the murder of Pakistani journalist Saleem Shahzad. Journalist Shahzad working for the Hong-Kong based Asia Times online was found dead in a canal of Gujarat, Pakistan, on May 31, two day after his disappearance. He had got injuries in various parts of his body.
According to the Human Rights Watch, Shahzad, a 40-year-old father of three, had voiced concern about his safety after receiving threatening telephone calls from the Inter Service Intelligence (ISI) and was under surveillance since 2010.
The killing of journalist Shahazad is an attack on the vibrant press in Pakistan.
It not only indicates that journalists in Pakistan are working in risks but also suggests that Pakistani people's right to information is gagged and the democracy weakening.
Freedom Forum, as an organization advocating freedom of expression and right to information, condemns the killing and expresses solidarity to the international rights bodies' concerns and demands the concerned authorities of Pakistan to bring the culprit to book so as to respect the freedom of expression, human rights and democratic values. Moreover, Freedom Forum expresses condolence to the bereaved family and wishes eternal peace to the departed soul.
For more information,
Freedom Forum
monitoring@freedomforum.org.np
01-4102030/ 4102022