Justice eludes slain Pakistani journalists

 JournalismPakistan.com |  Published: 31 May 2013

The murder of journalist Saleem Shahzad remains unsolved two years later, highlighting the dangers faced by the press in Pakistan. The Committee to Protect Journalists urges new government action to address journalist safety.

Summary

On the second anniversary of the murder of Pakistani journalist Saleem Shahzad, the Committee to Protect Journalists has called on authorities to continue investigating and find his killers.

An official commission of inquiry concluded in January 2012 that the perpetrators in Shazahd's case were unknown, and there has been no further movement in the investigation. "Two years after he was found beaten to death, Saleem Shahzad's case remains unsolved, as have all of the 23 murders of Pakistani journalists in the last decade," said CPJ Asia program coordinator, Bob Dietz.

"At this juncture, CPJ calls on the incoming government of prime minister designate Nawaz Sharif to make full police investigations into all the killings of journalists a priority and to take decisive steps toward stemming the impunity with which the deaths have taken place."

CPJ's recently published report, Roots of Impunity: Pakistan's Endangered Press and the Perilous Web of Militancy, Security, and Politics found that Pakistani journalists are targeted not only by militants, criminals, and warlords, but also by political, military, and intelligence operatives, making the country one of the deadliest in the world for the press.

An Urdu version of the report is available here.

KEY POINTS:

• Saleem Shahzad was murdered two years ago with no arrests made.
• The Committee to Protect Journalists emphasizes the need for ongoing investigations.
• A report indicates systemic targeting of journalists by various groups in Pakistan.
• CPJ calls for the new government to prioritize journalist safety and investigation.
• Pakistan is ranked among the deadliest countries for journalists.