Syed Saleem Shahzad

Syed Saleem Shahzad was a prominent Pakistani investigative journalist who contributed extensively to major European and Asian media outlets. He held positions as the Pakistan Bureau Chief for Asia Times Online and the Italian news agency Adnkronos (AKI).

Early life and education

Shahzad was born in Karachi on 3 November 1970. He belonged to the Syed Wasti lineage, which can be traced back to Uttar Pradesh, India. As the eldest of three siblings, he had a younger brother named Waseem Fawad and a younger sibling named Mariam Shamim.

He maintained a keen interest in politics throughout his youth. Shahzad earned a Master of Arts in International Relations from the University of Karachi. While attending college, he was a member of the student wing of Jamaat-e-Islami, but he eventually stopped supporting the group because he found it too radical.

Career

Shahzad covered diverse topics including global security issues, Islamic movements, and the Pakistani armed forces. He focused his writing on the Taliban and al-Qaeda. His reporting often addressed Muslim resistance movements in both Iraq and Lebanon. He traveled widely across Europe, Asia, and the Middle East to conduct his investigations.

His journalistic reach extended to several prestigious publications. He wrote for Le Monde diplomatique in France, La Stampa in Italy, and Dawn in Pakistan. He also served as the South Asia Correspondent for Adnkronos International (AKI). His opinion pieces appeared in the Boston Review and the Qatari-based Islamonline.net.

The journalist frequently interviewed Islamist militants, including members of al-Qaeda. He introduced international audiences to previously unknown figures such as Sheikh Essa. Before they gained global notoriety, he had interviewed militants like Qari Ziaur Rahman and Sirajuddin Haqqani. He also interviewed Ilyas Kashmiri shortly after the latter was appointed chief of the military committee for al-Qaeda.

Shahzad's work appeared in various Pakistani newspapers. English dailies such as The Post, The Nation, and the Daily Times reproduced his articles. He was also featured in Urdu publications like Daily Aaj and Daily Mashriq. His writing was often quoted by the press in Canada and the United States.

In November 2006, he experienced Taliban captivity for a few days in the Helmand Province of Afghanistan. He documented this period in a series titled "In the Land of the Taliban" for Asia Times Online. He was also an associate of the Pakistan Security Research Unit within the University of Bradford's department of Peace Studies.

Shortly before his death, Shahzad published his final book, Inside Al-Qaeda and the Taliban: Beyond Bin Laden and 9/11. In a final article for Asia Times Online, he claimed that al-Qaeda carried out the PNS Mehran attack. He reported that the attackers belonged to the 313 Brigade of Ilyas Kashmiri.

Shahzad disappeared on 29 May 2011 in Islamabad. He reportedly left his home at 5:30 pm to attend a television show, but his phone was switched off at 5:42 pm. His body was discovered the next day in a canal in the Mandi Bahauddin district. The ISI denied accusations from Human Rights Watch and US officials regarding his death.

Personal life

Shahzad married Anita Ameer. Together, they had three children: Syed Fahad Saleem, Amna Saleem, and Syed Rehman Shah. His youngest son was previously named Abdullah Saleem.

Awards and recognition

In June 2011, a jury unanimously awarded Shahzad the Ischia International Journalism Award. This annual prize recognizes excellence in the field of journalism. His name is also included on the Journalists Memorial at the Newseum in Washington, D.C.

Several honors were established in his memory following his death. The Pakistan Press Foundation announced the PPF-Aslam Ali Press Freedom Award-2012 for him. Additionally, the Alfred Friendly Press Fellowships and the PPF created the Daniel Pearl-Saleem Shahzad Fellowship in 2012 to train Pakistani reporters in investigative reporting.

Reporters Without Borders (RSF) also honored his legacy. During a protest for the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists, the organization renamed 12 streets in Paris after murdered or disappeared journalists. One of these locations is named Rue Syed Saleem Shahzad.