ISLAMABAD - Questioning the silence of the Supreme Court, which usually takes suo motu notice of almost everything that takes place under the sun, on the murder of journalist Salim Shahzad and many others, journalists from across the country demanded formation of a judicial commission to investigate the case and expose the real culprits.
On the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists’ call, journalists staged a sit-in on the Constitution Avenue. Hundreds of civil society activists and politicians participated in the sit-in which is to conclude at 5pm today (Thursday). Holding banners and placards, the protesters chanted, “We don’t accept tyranny… we want justice, chief justice take notice, rulers provide us security”. PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif also showed up to express solidarity with journalists. “It was not Salim Shahzad’s murder, but the murder of journalism and law and constitution in Pakistan,” Nawaz said, adding that there was no room for complacency. He said he wanted to know why the state agencies and the government were helpless and who was creating hurdles in the way of an independent commission to probe the Abbottabad episode.
“We are with journalists… independent commission should be formed without any delay,” MQM leader Haider Abbas Rizvi said. PPP MNA Sherry Rehman also demanded the government form an independent commission to probe Shahzad’s murder.
Law Minister Maula Bukhsh Chandio said he was not aware of the journalists’ demand earlier but now he would take up the matter with the PM. JUI-F chief Fazlur Rehman, PML-Q Secretary General Mushahid Hussain and SCBA President Asma Jehangir also came to express solidarity with the journalists. Earlier, the journalists walked out from the Senate and the National Assembly press galleries.