White House officials believe that Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence ordered the killing of Pakistani investigative journalist Saleem Shahzad whose body was found on 31 May. Shahzad’s death followed after warnings from Pakistani security agencies over articles that seemed damaging to Pakistan’s national interest and image.
According to Pakistani news sources, the body of the Pakistan bureau chief for Asia Times Online, has been found. He had been missing since Sunday. Previous reports said that he was under the custody of Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence. Human rights groups claim that the agency has abused and tortured journalists in the past. Saleem Shahzad’s disappearence followed after warnings from Pakistani security agencies over articles that seemed damaging to Pakistan’s national interest and image. Shahza recently covered the Pakistan Taliban’s attack of a naval air force base in Karachi on May 23.