The following is the self-introduction that slain Pakistani journalist Saleem Shahzad posted on the website of Asia Times Online. The self-penned introduction is revealing.

SYED SALEEM SHAHZAD

I am in my early 30s and based in Pakistan's southern city of Karachi. I have been writing for newspapers for several years, starting as a staff reporter at The Star (Dawn Group of Newspapers), to which I am still affiliated as senior political correspondent. The power sector and aviation were my main fields, and my exposes in these areas have had an impact on national policy making. More recently, I am known for writing bold stories about sensitive institutions like the apex court and the armed forces. Exposing the role of the Inter-Services Intelligence agency in Pakistani politics landed me in trouble, but intervention at a very high level by leaders of the national press forced the state apparatus to take a step back. Presently, regional issues including the political situations in Afghanistan, Iranand the Middle Eastare my focus. [Editor's note:

While the world's media was still obsessed with the ruins of the WorldTradeCenter, Saleem was putting the story into context: US courts Muslim backlash  (Sept  12, 2001) and Osama bin Laden: Myths and reality  (Sept 14, 2001)]