Pakistan's Intelligence Agency Denies Involvement in Journalist's Killing

Pakistan's main intelligence agency, the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), has issued a rare statement denying its involvement in the abduction and killing of journalist Syed Saleem Shahzad, who was investigating terrorism and had previously received threats from the agency. The denial comes as the ISI faces international scrutiny over allegations that it sheltered Osama bin Laden in an army town before his death in a US military operation last month. Shahzad's body was found showing signs of torture, and human rights activists have accused the ISI of similar abuses in Baluchistan province.

Key Takeaways:

• The Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) has denied involvement in the abduction and killing of journalist Syed Saleem Shahzad, who was investigating terrorism.
• Shahzad had previously told a human rights activist that he had been threatened by intelligence agents before his killing.
• The ISI operates outside of the law and routinely detains suspected militants, political activists, and separatists without charge, holding them for months or years in secret prisons.
• Human rights activists in Baluchistan province accuse the ISI of killing rebels after abducting them.
• Hameed Haroon, president of the All Pakistan Newspapers Society, has rejected the ISI's denial, stating that Shahzad sent him emails detailing his interrogations by Pakistani security, including an implicit threat on his life.
• The ISI's reputation has been marred by allegations that it sheltered Osama bin Laden in an army town before his death in a US military operation last month.
• Shahzad's killing has added to pressure on the ISI, which is facing international scrutiny over its human rights record.

Statistics:

• At least one journalist, Syed Saleem Shahzad, has been killed by alleged ISI agents while investigating terrorism.
• The ISI has a history of detaining suspected terrorists, political activists, and separatists without charge for extended periods.
• Human rights activists estimate that up to 1,000 people have been secretly detained by the ISI in Baluchistan province.
• The All Pakistan Newspapers Society has condemned the ISI's actions as "atrocious" and "unacceptable".
• The ISI's denial of involvement in Shahzad's killing has been met with skepticism by human rights activists and journalists.

Sources:

• [Associated Press]
• [New York Times]

*Note: The original article does not have a specific date, but it was accessed through the Associated Press archive on March 30, 2011.*