Islamabad, July 8(ANI): Pakistan has denounced top US military official Admiral Mike Mullen's statement, in which he had accused the Pakistan Government of having "sanctioned" the murder of journalist Syed Saleem Shahzad, as "extremely irresponsible".
"If it is true, then the statement is extremely irresponsible. It will not help in investigating the issue," the Associated Press of Pakistan quoted a government spokesman, as responding to Mullen's statement.
He pointed out that the Pakistan Government has already established an independent, non-partisan and autonomous commission to probe the issue.
"If any one has to share anything at national or international level, it should be shared with the Commission," the spokesman said.
"If any statement is issued other than this way, it will be considered an attempt to influence the proceeding of the Commission," he added.
The spokesman further said that it "seems that some elements are trying to use this issue against the elected democratic government and Pakistan. We cannot say anything except expressing regret on it."
The US Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman had told journalists at the Pentagon that Shahzad's murder "was sanctioned by the [Pakistan] government."
"I have not seen anything to disabuse the report that the government knew about this," he had added.
Mullen's comments are the first high-level confirmation that Washington believes its nominal allies in Islamabad ordered the abduction, torture, and killing of 41-year-old Shahzad in May. (ANI)
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