Human Rights Watch says ISI beyond reach of criminal system

Human Rights Watch says ISI beyond reach of criminal system

The Human Rights Watch (HRW) expressed concerns over the report of the judicial commission, tasked to probe the death of journalist Saleem Shahzad, urging upon the government to redouble its efforts to bring the culprits before the justice.

According to a press note issued by the HRW, the probe commission’s failure in revealing the real culprits indicated back to the ISI’s iron grip over the country’s judicial system. It observed that it had documented many alleged intimidation, torture, forceful disappearances and killings of many media professionals but to no avail.

Brad Adams, the HRW Asia Director, comments over the report, “The commission’s failure to get to the bottom of the Shahzad killing illustrates the ability of the ISI to remain beyond the reach of Pakistan’s criminal justice system. The government still has the responsibility to identify those responsible for Shahzad’s death and hold them accountable, no matter where the evidence leads.”

He further informed that Shahzad had made it clear to the watchdog agency that the ISI should be considered prime suspect if he is assassinated. The deceased had never expressed fears of being killed by militants’ outfits, he added.

Rejecting the commission’s report, the press statement further said that influence of ISI over the judicial commission was evident from the fact that Umar Cheema, another journalist subjected to torture allegedly by the same intelligence agency, was not summoned to record his statement.

Despite the fact Umar Cheema publically alleged the ISI and offered to testify before the commission, it is incomprehensible that why it did not call him for testimony, the HRW added.

The press note asserted, “ISI abuses will only stop if it is subject to the rule of law, civilian oversight, and public accountability. It is the government’s duty to insist on such accountability and the military’s duty to submit to it. The ISI needs to stop acting as a state within a state.”

It is vital to note it here that a high-profile commission constituted by the Supreme Court submitted its report to the Prime Minister after six months without declaring anyone responsible for the kidnapping, torture, and assassination of Saleem Shahzad.

A few segments of the society including rights groups and journalists’ bodies had alleged that ISI was behind this killing.

Syed Saleem Shahzad was kidnapped on his way to Dawn News, in Islamabad, on May 29, 2011. His dead-body, bearing marks of severe torture, was found in a canal near Mandi Bahauddin.

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Posted by Faisal Farooq on Jan 30 2012. Filed under National, Pakistan, Society. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.