ISLAMABAD: Taking up a petition requesting the setting up of a judicial commission to investigate the killing of journalist Saleem Shahzad, the Supreme Court on Friday issued notices to the federal secretaries for law, interior and information with directions to submit their responses before the court by June 20, DawnNews reported.

The court heard the petition moved by SCBA president Asma Jehangir on behalf of the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ). The petition requests the setting up of a high-powered judicial commission to investigate Mr Shahzad's killing.

PFUJ’s counsel Ms Jehangir reportedly stated that Mr Shahzad's mobile phone records spanning over 15 days had been wiped out.

She said the court could also summon the chief of the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and added that intelligence agencies were capable of wiping out telephone records.

During the hearing, Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry said that the government did not fulfill the legal formalities requisite for appointing Justice Saqib Nisar as head of a judicial probe.

Subsequently, the court adjourned the hearing to June 20.