Pakistan: Pakistani journalist murdered in Punjab province

Islamabad, 31 May (AKI) - Pakistani journalist Saleem Syed Shahzad has been murdered in eastern Punjab province after he vanished on Sunday in Islambad, Adnkronos International (AKI) has learned from a well informed source in Pakistan. His body showed signs of torture, the source said.

Shahzad's body was recovered from a canal on Sunday about 40 kilometres downstream from where his car was found on Monday near Sarai Alamgir, some 150 kilometres southwest of the capital, the source told AKI.

Shahzad was AKI's Pakistan correspondent and bureau chief for the Singapore-based daily Asia Times Online.

He was buried by a charitable organisation late on Sunday in Punjab province's Mandi Bahauddin district in the village of Head Rasul, the source said.

The police carried out an autopsy on Shahzad who was buried after no one responded to their announcement that an unidentified body had been found.

The area had no morgue facilities.

Shahzad's brother-in-law later identified the body, according to the source.

"It is very disturbing for all of us. He was beaten to death, both his ribs were broken and marks of wounds were his left side and on the legs, according to doctor who conducted the autopsy.

"His wife is traumatised, he leaves behind three children, two sons aged 14 and 7 and one daughter aged 12 years," the source told AKI.

The source said he hoped there would be a thorough investigation but said at present there was no clue on who had abducted and murdered Shahzad.

He vanished on Sunday after leaving his home in Islamabad to drive to private Dunya TV's studios take part in a talk show.

Days before his disappearance, Shahzad had authored an article published by Asia Times Online that alleged links between navy officials and Al-Qaeda