ISLAMABAD: The government announced on Thursday the formation of a judicial commission headed by a Supreme Court judge to investigate the murder of  journalist Syed Saleem Shahzad, DawnNews reported.

In developments during the early hours of Thursday, Information Minister Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan announced the name of Justice Saqib Nisar of the Supreme Court to head the independent judicial commission to investigate the murder.

The announcement came after a 24-hour sit-in by journalists in front of the Parliament House. The protest camp was visited by parliamentarians, leaders and office-bearers of almost all political parties and members of the civil society and rights groups, who expressed their solidarity with journalists.

Addressing the journalists at the protest, the information minister said it was the government's duty to safeguard the lives of journalists and ensure their well-being. She added that the decision to set up the commission had been made on journalists' demands.

The demonstrators decided to bring the protest to an end following the announcement.