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Hillary Clinton condemns Pakistan journalist's killing Murdered Pakistani journalist Saleem Shahzad is buried
(about 4 hours later)
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has condemned the murder of a Pakistani journalist who had recently written an article about al-Qaeda infiltration in Pakistan's navy. The funeral has taken place in Karachi of murdered Pakistani journalist Saleem Shahzad, whose body was found on Tuesday two days after he went missing.
Saleem Shahzad's body was found on Tuesday two days after he went missing. The 40-year-old father of three vanished after leaving home in Islamabad to appear on a television talk show.
He had recently written an article about al-Qaeda infiltration into Pakistan's navy.
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has condemned the murder.
Earlier a Human Rights Watch researcher said he had "credible information" that Shahzad was in the custody of Pakistani intelligence.Earlier a Human Rights Watch researcher said he had "credible information" that Shahzad was in the custody of Pakistani intelligence.
Mr Shahzad's funeral is taking place on Wednesday in the city of Karachi. Mr Shahzad made a career writing about the various Islamist militant networks operating in Pakistan and warned human rights campaigners before his disappearance that he had been threatened by Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). It has denied any involvement.
Pakistan has ordered an immediate inquiry into his kidnapping and murder.Pakistan has ordered an immediate inquiry into his kidnapping and murder.
"The United States strongly condemns the abduction and killing of reporter Syed Saleem Shahzad," Ms Clinton said in a statement. Mr Shahzad's body was found about 150km (90 miles) south-east of Islamabad. Police said it bore marks of torture.
"His work reporting on terrorism and intelligence issues in Pakistan brought to light the troubles extremism poses to Pakistan's stability," she said. Syed Saleem Shahzad's funeral was held near his home in Karachi's Defence neighbourhood, and was attended by hundreds of people - including representatives of Pakistan's media unions and senior journalists.
Mrs Clinton also welcomed the investigation into the killing. Mr Shahzad's body was brought directly to the mosque from the airport by Islambad police. It was kept in a casket, which remained closed; Islamic rituals stipulate that the body should be in an open box with the face uncovered unless there are extreme reasons not to do so.
Mr Shahzad's funeral will take place in his native city of Karachi on Wednesday. His href="http://www.atimes.com/atimes/South_Asia/ME27Df06.html" >article about al-Qaeda infiltration in Pakistan's navy was recently published. The body fulfilled those extreme criteria: It was in a bad condition having being temporarily buried prior to its discovery, and the post mortem said it bore clear signs of torture.
Mr Shahzad's brother and young son were the first to put clay on the grave - a symbolic gesture symbolising a final parting with the departed. Other family members stood by, weeping openly.
"The cause of death is torture and there are several signs of torture on his body and face," Ashok Kumar, one of the doctors who carried out a post-mortem, told the AFP news agency.
The post mortem report said that there were "15 torture marks" on his body, and no bullet wounds.The post mortem report said that there were "15 torture marks" on his body, and no bullet wounds.
It said the death was probably caused by a fatal blow to the body in the chest region.It said the death was probably caused by a fatal blow to the body in the chest region.
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. Wasim Fawad, a brother of Mr Shahzad, told AFP that the family were in shock.
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. "The post-mortem was being conducted on our request and we will also lodge a case with police," he said. "We want an investigation into this killing.
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. "My brother was killed for writing the truth. He paid a huge price, he sacrificed his life but always spoke the truth."
Mr Shahzad had reported recently 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. Deadly assault
Mrs Clinton said that the US "strongly condemned the abduction and killing" of Mr Shahzad.
"His work reporting on terrorism and intelligence issues in Pakistan brought to light the troubles extremism poses to Pakistan's stability," she said in a statement.
She also welcomed the investigation into the killing.
Mr Shahzad's article about al-Qaeda infiltration in Pakistan's navy was recently published.
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.At least 14 people were killed and two navy warplanes destroyed.
On Monday, a former navy commando and his brother were detained for their alleged role in helping plan the raid, which embarrassed the military.On Monday, a former navy commando and his brother were detained for their alleged role in helping plan the raid, which embarrassed the military.
The 40-year-old's body was found in a canal in Mandi Baha Uddin in Pakistan's northern Gujarat district.The 40-year-old'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 Mr Shahzad had recently complained about being threatened by the intelligence arm of the Pakistan military, the Inter Services Intelligence Directorate (ISI). Earlier, Human Rights Watch researcher Ali Dayan Hasan said Mr Shahzad had recently complained about being threatened by the ISI.
A senior Pakistani intelligence official told the Associated Press it was "absurd" to say that the ISI had anything to do with Mr Shahzad's death.A senior Pakistani intelligence official told the Associated Press it was "absurd" to say that the ISI had anything to do with Mr Shahzad's death.
The dead man, 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.The dead man, 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.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.