Islamabad, June 16 (IANS) Pakistan Thursday announced the formation of a judicial commission headed by a Supreme Court judge to investigate the murder of journalist Saleem Shahzad, Dawn News reported.

Information Minister Firdous Ashiq Awan announced the name of Justice Saqib Nisar of the Supreme Court to head the judicial commission.

The announcement came in the early hours of Thursday, after a 24-hour protest by journalists in front of parliament. Many parliamentarians, leaders and office-bearers of political parties and members of civil society groups expressed their solidarity with the journalists.

Shahzad's body bearing marks of torture was found in a canal in Punjab province's Mandi Bahauddin district, 150 km from Islamabad, two days after he went missing in the capital while on his way to attend a TV show.

He worked for Hong Kong-based Asia Times Online. Days before his disappearance, he had published an article alleging links between the Al Qaeda and a few Pakistani navy officials.

The journalists decided to end the protest following the announcement.

The information minister later said it was the government's duty to safeguard the lives of journalists in the country and ensure their well-being.