Murdered Pakistani journalist Saleem Shahzad was buried in Karachi on Wednesday, surrounded by journalist colleagues who swore to find those responsible for his killing. Though ISI sources have denied any connection, many pointed accusatory fingers at the intelligence agency. The government has now ordered an enquiry.
Interior Minister Rehman Malik promised a full investigation into his death including allegations that he was killed by the ISI. Malik also hinted that Shahzad's killing could have been the result of personal enmity, but his friends aren't convinced
Shahzad's family friend Zafar Sheikh said, "He was an extremely critical writer. His writings in 'Asia Times' were not liked by many circles, especially power corridors and that's why he was always getting threats, direct life threats not from one side, from all sides."
Journalists say Shahzad was probably killed because he was close to unravelling Osama bin Laden's support network in Pakistan. Also he had angered either the ISI or the al Qaeda affiliate Illyas Kashmiri by publishing details of al Qaeda's penetration of the Navy and was also due to run a story on Illyas Kashmiri's recruitment camps.
International clamour has been growing after an email was released by Shahzad in which he talked about a meeting he had with ISI. He mentioned direct threat by the ISI and said the email must be released if he is murdered.
The email from Rear Admiral Adnan Nazir, DG of the ISI's Media Wing said, "I must give you a favor. We have recently arrested a terrorist and have recovered a lot of data, diaries and other material during the interrogation. The terrorist had a hit list with him. If I find your name in the list, I will certainly let you know."
Eventually the brutally beaten and tortured body of Shahzad proves he was on a hit list and the heat is on the Pakistani military establishment, already under fire for collusion with terror groups and incompetence, to find out whose list it was.
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