The statement made by the Minister for Information and Communication and government spokesperson Shanker Pokharel on the murder of media magnate Jamim Shah is not the official position of the government, the Foreign Ministry clarified on Wednesday.

Shankar Pokharel (File photo)

Issuing a statement on Wednesday, the Foreign Ministry said that that “High-Level” investigation committee formed to probe the day-light murder of Shah has begun its work and that the reports attributing remarks made by Minister Pokharel, that "Jamim Shah was killed due to tension between India and Pakistan" is not the official position of the government.

At a function in Kathmandu on Sunday, Minister Pokharel was reported to have said that Shah's murder could be a result of tension between India and Pakistan.

"Muslims are becoming the target of tension between India and Pakistan," media reports quoted him as saying.

Two days later, the Indian Embassy reacted to the reports through a press statement, saying it was 'surprised' at Minister Pokharel’s remarks.

"No information to substantiate the reported statement by the Hon'ble Minister has been provided by the Government of Nepal to this Embassy," the statement read.

Minister Pokharel later said he didn’t made that statement meaning to put it across as a government official version on the case, but was just giving voice to the concerns of Nepali Muslim community who are increasingly “feel victimized by the growing international tension and conflict”. Nepalnews.com