Journalist killed in Pakistan

Islamabad, April 20 (IANS) A senior journalist of Pakistan's Dawn newspaper was found murdered in a house in Karachi Thursday, police said.

Murtaza Razvi's body was found in an apartment in the Defence Housing Authority area.

He had apparently been strangled to death. His hands were tied and his body bore torture marks, police said.

Razvi was a senior assistant editor and head of magazines at Dawn, the newspaper reported on its website.

His family said he did not have any personal enmity with anyone. They requested the media not to speculate until police apprehends his killer.

Razvi is survived by his widow and three daughters.

Last year, seven Pakistani journalists were killed, bringing the total to 29 in the last five years in the country, said media rights group Committee to Protect Journalists.

Saleem Shahzad, who was southeast Asia's bureau chief for Asia Times Online and also worked for Italy's AKI news agency, was found dead following his disappearance from Islamabad in May last year. His death had drawn worldwide atttention.

The 40-year-old's body with signs of torture was recovered two days later 150 km from Islamabad.