The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) and Reporters sans Frontieres (RSF) sent an urgent appeal today to Pakistan’s President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani requesting they ensure an immediate and transparent investigation to locate disappeared journalist Syed Saleem Shahzad.

Shahzad, the Pakistan bureau chief for Asia Times Online, disappeared in Islamabad on May 29, two days after he published the first of a two-part investigative series into alleged links between Al-Qaeda and Pakistani naval officials.

Unconfirmed reports from Pakistan late today say Shahzad’s car has been found in Siraye Alamgeer area of Jehlum district in Punjab province. Sources said that an unidentified body and identity card for Shahzad were also recovered from the car.

Reports have accumulated throughout the day that Shahzad was being held by Pakistan’s Directorate for Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). Human Rights Watch (HRW) reported it had verified he was arbitrarily detained by ISI.

The full text of the joint letter is below:

31 May 2011

Dear Mr President and Mr Prime Minister,

RE: Urgent Appeal on Disappearance of Syed Saleem Shahzad

As leading international organisations representing journalists and press freedom defenders from around the world, we are writing to you with utmost urgency to impress upon you our alarm at the suspicious disappearance of investigative journalist Syed Saleem Shahzad in Islamabad on May 29.

We are extremely worried for the safety of Mr Shahzad. We appeal to you both to exert your authority as President and as Prime Minister to direct Pakistan’s security services and police agencies to conduct an immediate and transparent investigation to ascertain Mr Shahzad’s whereabouts.

Mr Shahzad is the Pakistan bureau chief for Asia Times Online, and is reported to have disappeared in the early evening of May 29, as he was leaving his F-8 Sector residence to participate in a television talk show.

You would be aware that Mr Shahzad published the first of a two-part investigative series into alleged links between Al-Qaeda and Pakistani naval officials on Asia Times Online on May 27.

We are deeply concerned about the potential involvement of state agents in Mr Shazad’s disappearance. We note that Human Rights Watch (HRW) reports being informed by sources that Mr Shahzad is being held by the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI).

 
We call on you to ensure the Government of Pakistan does its utmost to bring an end to a very worrying and critical situation that could turn into a broader crisis, especially if ISI is involved.

We therefore urge that the Government of Pakistan deploy all necessary resources to find Mr Shahzad quickly, and to call in the services of foreign agencies if such assistance is necessary to ensure a successful investigation.

By acting quickly and firmly, you have an opportunity now to reverse Pakistan’s appalling track record in investigating abuses against journalists, including murder, abduction and assault. But action must be taken before the trail goes cold.

The investigation should be transparent and the public should be kept informed, including in regard to any link between Mr Shahzad’s disappearance and the content of his May 27 article.

We have seen too many cases in the past several years when action was not taken quickly while evidence remained intact, as in the murder of Musa Khan Kel in Swat in February 2009.

Only with an immediate, transparent and well-resourced investigation into Mr Shahzad’s disappearance can we regard the State of Pakistan as committed to the rule of law and to ending once and for all the culture of impunity that has prevailed for too long when it comes to the use violence against journalists working in the best interests of Pakistan’s people.

Yours Respectfully,

International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) 

Reporters Without Borders / Reporters sans Frontieres (RSF)

For further information contact IFJ Asia-Pacific on +61 2 9333 0919 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting            +61 2 9333 0919      end_of_the_skype_highlighting

The IFJ represents more than 600,000 journalists in 131 countries

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