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@T-Faz,
Yeah, likely scenario.
But what a loss to the world of journalism.
May be rest in peace.
I have confidence that a citizen's rights will be protected if he is brought in for questioning, yes.
How would you know? And what happens to them?
M Ilyas Khan
BBC News, Islamabad
Saleem Shahzad's death has shocked journalists across Pakistan. But the horror is not so much caused by the death itself - it is the widely held belief that he was in the custody of the ISI intelligence agency when he was killed.
In the past, journalists trying to poke their noses into the geostrategic games of the Pakistani intelligence community have been picked up and given a dose of what they might expect if they cross the line. Some of them gradually faded away as avenues of reporting closed for them. Others learned their lesson, quit their bases, or reverted to "responsible" journalism, as it is known in Pakistan. Though none of them spoke publicly about their ordeals, other journalists were aware of what was going on.
Those working for comparatively little known or less influential media groups - like Shahzad did - have been more vulnerable. In a country where journalists have borne the brunt of political as well as religious extremism, the thought of state institutions also joining the persecution has always been an uncomfortable one. The feeling that these institutions might actually kill journalists in cold blood is more dreadful than killings by extremists.
Pakistani journalist Saleem Shahzad found dead
A Pakistani journalist who was feared abducted after he went missing on Sunday has been found dead, his family has confirmed.
Police said Saleem Shahzad's body was found in a canal in Mandi Baha Uddin in Pakistan's northern Gujarat district.
Earlier, Human Rights Watch researcher Ali Dayan Hasan said he had "credible information" that Shahzad was in the custody of Pakistani intelligence.
He recently wrote an article about al-Qaeda infiltration in Pakistan's navy.
He reported that the militant group had launched the deadly assault on the Mehran base in Karachi, the headquarters of the navy's air wing, on 22 May because talks had failed over the release of several naval personnel arrested on suspicion of links to al-Qaeda affiliates.
At least 14 people were killed and two navy warplanes destroyed in the attack.
On Monday, a former navy commando and his brother were detained for their alleged role in helping plan the raid, which embarrassed the military.
'Tragic'
Shahzad's family said he had disappeared after leaving his home in Islamabad on Sunday evening and heading to a television station to participate in a talkshow.
They immediately issued statements saying they feared for his safety.
The 40-year-old's body was found by local residents in a canal in the Sarai Alamgir area of Mandi Baha Uddin, some 150km (93 miles) south-east of the capital. His car was found about 10km (six miles) away.
The head of Margalla police station in Islamabad, Fayaz Tanoli, told the BBC that the local police force took photographs of the body and informed his officers on Monday that it might be Shahzad's.
The photographs were shown to Shahzad's brother-in-law, Hamza Amir, who identified the remains. Police said he had cuts to his face.
Relatives later travelled to Sarai Alamgir to confirm he was dead.
Mr Hasan of Human Rights Watch said Shahzad had recently complained about being threatened by the intelligence arm of the Pakistan military, the Inter Services Intelligence Directorate (ISI).
"He visited our office and informed us that the ISI had threatened him. He told us that if anything happened to him, we should inform the media about the situation and threats," he told the AFP news agency.
"We can form an opinion after the investigation and a court verdict, but... in the past, the ISI has been involved in similar incidents."
Mr Hasan also said he had been told by some Pakistani government officials that they believed Shahzad was in ISI custody.
A senior Pakistani intelligence official told the Associated Press it was "absurd" to say that the ISI had anything to do with Shahzad's death.
The Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists said: "We are losing our professional colleagues but the government never unearths who is behind the killing of journalists."
Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani has expressed his heartfelt condolences to Shahzad's family and ordered an immediate inquiry into his kidnapping and murder.
Shahzad, who had a wife and three children, worked for the Italian news agency Adnkronos International (AKI) and was Pakistan bureau chief for Asia Times Online.
Human rights groups recently called Pakistan the most dangerous place in the world for journalists to operate, saying they were under threat from Islamist militants but also Pakistan's military and intelligence agencies.
you gave a clean chit to ISI ?This is not the job of ISI. Following two are strong possibilities:
1. Extremists who knew that Saleem can name them.
2. More importantly, the extremists links inside Navy, Army, ISI felt threatened and knew that Saleem has credible information to expose them.
As a result he was abducted under the umbrella of ISI so that ISI gets the blame. Actually. it would be the rogue elements who cannot afford tobe exposed.
To confirm what I have said, you simply have to look at the report from Saleem.
@Jana
Sad that someone like you have now been reduced to arguing that it is somehow acceptable that an intelligence agency kidnap a man even if it is, as you suggest just a means to glean information. Normal countries would do this in a much more measured manner if at all.
you gave a clean chit to ISI ?
so in your expert opinion ISI is a farishta sift organization that protectas its people?
you gave a clean chit to ISI ?
so in your expert opinion ISI is a farishta sift organization that protectas its people?
Since when did extraordinary rendition become a detention and interrogation process that was 'legal' and had any kind of US judicial 'oversight'?In America people are detained for questioning via legal processes, that doesn't happen in Pakistan, where the actions of the "agencies" are not subject to the law. They aren't even subject to independent oversight! (I wonder how many Pakistanis pretend to be ISI, just to scare and control others.)
The ISI is not a 'farishta organization', but it had no motive to kill SS, especially after he published an article that was critical of the military.
What are the chances that this is a ploy by CIA to further discredit ISI.. They may have used their agents (TTP) for the same...
Any thoughts on this line of reasoning??