Daily Times

“It is not that we need help, but you people need to stand up so that you are not the next in line,” Waseem Fawad grimly stated as he concluded the tear-jerking tale of his brother’s demise. His tremulous voice signified the struggle to control emotions as he recounted Saleem Shahzad’s last days. I listened quietly, at a loss to find words. I was there to offer condolences to the family, but realised very soon that words cannot do much to appease the sentiments — they demanded justice.

Saleem Shahzad’s incident cannot be viewed in isolation; he is the sixth journalist during the current year who has succumbed to unnatural circumstances. These occurrences highlight the shrinking space in the country for independent journalism, and manifest the failure of government to fulfil its primary task. It is a shame that people from the media industry have been organisation-centric while protesting the abduction and murder of journalists. Given the circumstances, Saleem’s family expressed fears that the demand for bringing the perpetrators to justice might also lose strength amidst rifts among different media organisations and the fear of state institutions. Until now, different journalists’ organisations appear to be firm in their resolve. One can only hope that, this time around, the movement will gain strength and yield productive results.

Ironically, despite the countrywide protests and the extraordinary media attention the case has drawn, the police and law enforcement agencies have treated it in their usual casual and bureaucratic way. The probe into the incident could not be initiated for two days as the Punjab and capital police quarrelled over the jurisdiction in which the crime took place. The reaction of the police force symbolises either their reluctance or their utter lack of seriousness and interest in catching those responsible for this heinous crime.

Following Saleem Shahzad’s disappearance, Human Rights Watch (HRW) expressed concerns that he might have been abducted by the ISI. As his body was discovered, Ali Dayan (HRW’s representative) unveiled an e-mail from Saleem Shahzad that highlighted details of a meeting with the agency’s officials. The words mentioned in the e-mail can undoubtedly be interpreted as a veiled threat. The ISI, in a rare press release, denied having any links with the murder of the journalist and threatened legal action against the media houses prompting such allegations. The statement was followed by a revelation by Hameed Haroon, president All Pakistan Newspapers Society (APNS) that he had also received an identical e-mail from the late journalist. He also added that Shahzad sent a similar e-mail to his employers (Asia Times Online), and had received death threats from different officers of the ISI on at least three occasions in the past five years. Keeping this in view, the authenticity of the e-mail cannot be questioned and it is quite clear that Saleem Shahzad did not enjoy a very cordial relationship with certain segments of our security establishment.

In the given circumstances, one cannot help but raise the question that what actions were taken by these organisations (namely HRW, APNS and Asia Times Online) to avert the mishap, which seemed quite inevitable from the e-mails. None of these three is an ordinary organisation, especially HRW and APNS enjoy a degree of power and influence strong enough to engage the country’s security establishment and question the attitude adopted towards Asia Times Online’s bureau chief. Yet, this was probably never done. The e-mails were not made public, and the issue was not raised with the government.

So, were they waiting for the atrocity to strike before blowing the whistle? Were they waiting for the perfect frame as the vulture stalked the toddler? Or they simply failed to register these warnings as serious threats? Keeping in view the stature of the confidants, one expects them to be proactive rather than reactive, and to have actively pursued the quarrel between the journalist and the spy agency. Had the consequences been considered before, probably we would still have Saleem Shahzad amongst us, and Ali Dayan would not have to flee the country.

Sadly, the scale of the danger was not properly interpreted. The available evidence points towards the ‘prestigious’ spy agency, but there are voices that term it as a conspiracy against the country’s security establishment. The latter argument also cannot be refuted without concrete evidence. Lately, the security agencies have been under attack by the local and foreign media for their ineptness; this incident is another stain on their collar. A press statement from the PR department would not make the people believe their innocence; more tangible actions are needed. An inquiry commission headed by a judge of the Supreme Court, though promised by Rehman Malik (after consultation with the prime minister), has not yet been announced. The cries for justice, so far, appear to be falling on deaf ears.

The writer is deputy editor of an Urdu national daily. He can be reached at usmanshami@yahoo.com