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world news Diabierna 29 Januari 2021

Pakistan court orders accused in Daniel Pearl's death freed

(AP) — Pakistan’s Supreme
Court ordered on Thursday the
release of a Pakistani-British man
convicted and later acquitted in
the beheading of American jour-
nalist Daniel Pearl in 2002.

The court also dismissed an appeal
of Ahmad Saeed Omar Sheikh's ac-
quittal filed by Pearl’s family and the
Pakistani government.

A minister in the Sindh province
where Sheikh is being held said the
government had exhausted all op-
tions to keep him locked up — an
indication that Sheikh could be free
within days. The “Supreme Court is
the court of last resort,” Murtaza Wa-
hab, Sindh's law minister, told The
Associated Press.

“The Pearl family is in complete
shock by the majority decision of the
Supreme Court of Pakistan to acquit
and release Ahmed Omer Sheikh and
the other accused persons who kid-
napped and killed Daniel Pearl,” the
Pearl family said in a statement re-
leased by their lawyer, Faisal Siddiqi.
The brutality of Pearl's killing
shocked many in 2002, years before
the Islamic State group began releas-
ing videos of their militants behead-
ing journalists. An autopsy report
told of the gruesome details of the
Wall Street Journal reporter’s killing
and dismemberment.

Sheikh was convicted of helping lure in 2019 admitting a minor role — the family's statement said.
Pearl to a meeting in the southern raising hopes for some that he might “I expect the Sindh government will
Pakistani port city of Karachi, during remain behind bars. not make a mockery of justice by Siddiqi, the Pearl family lawyer, said
which he was kidnapped. Pearl had continuing ... to not release them for the only legal avenue available now is
been investigating the link between Sheikh has been on death row since no good reason whatsoever," he said. to ask for a review of the court's de-
Pakistani militants and Richard C. his conviction — even after his sub- cision to uphold Sheikh's acquittal.
Reid, dubbed the “shoe bomber” sequent acquittal — and is currently Washington previously said it would However, he said the review would
after his attempt to blow up a flight being held in a Karachi jail. A three- seek Sheikh's extradition to the be conducted by the same court
from Paris to Miami with explosives judge Supreme Court ruled 2 to 1 United States to be tried there, if the that made the decision. “In practical
hidden in his shoes. to uphold Sheikh’s acquittal and or- acquittal was upheld. It's not clear terms,” that means the case is closed
dered him released, according to the whether Pakistan would support in Pakistan, he said.
Pearl’s body was discovered in a shal- Pearl family lawyer. his extradition or even under what
low grave soon after a video of his grounds it could go ahead. On Wednesday, the Supreme Court
beheading was delivered to the U.S. A lawyer for Sheikh said the court heard Sheikh admit to a minor role in
Consulate in Karachi. also ordered the release of three “The United States stands ready to Pearl's kidnapping — a dramatic turn
other Pakistanis who had been sen- take custody of Omar Sheikh to stand of events after he had denied any in-
The Pentagon in 2007 released a tran- tenced to life in prison for their part trial here,” then acting Attorney Gen- volvement for 18 years. Siddiqi, the
script in which Khalid Sheikh Mo- in Pearl’s kidnapping and death. The eral Jeffrey A. Rosen said in a state- Pearl family lawyer, had expected it
hammad, the alleged mastermind of three — Fahad Naseem, Sheikh Adil ment. "We cannot allow him to evade would advance his case. Still, Siddiqi
the 9/11 attacks on the United States, and Salman Saqib — all played lesser justice for his role in Daniel Pearl’s had previously said winning was an
said he had killed Pearl. roles, such a providing a laptop or in- abduction and murder.” uphill battle.
ternet access to send pictures of Pearl,
“I decapitated with my blessed right with a gun to his head, with demands The case seems certain to test the new Sheikh and the three other men or-
hand the head of the American Jew that all prisoners at the U.S. prison in Biden administration’s skill in deal- dered released Thursday were all ac-
Daniel Pearl,” the transcript quoted Guantanamo Bay prison be released. ing with Pakistan, considered a key quitted in April by the Sindh High
Mohammed as saying. Mohammad Yet at the original trial all four were ally in getting peace in neighboring Court on the grounds that the initial
first disclosed his role while he was charged with the same crimes. Afghanistan. There was no immedi- prosecution’s evidence was insuffi-
held in CIA custody and subjected to ate reaction from the U.S. Embassy cient. During the appeal of that ac-
waterboarding, sleep deprivation and “These people should not have been on Thursday. quittal, Siddiqi tried to convince the
other forms of torture. He remains in in prison even for one day,” Mehm- Supreme Court of Sheikh's guilt on
the U.S. prison in Guantanamo Bay ood A. Sheikh, who is not related to The Pearl family urged both the U.S. at least one of the three charges he
and has never been charged with the his client, said. and Pakistani governments to take ac- faced, specifically the kidnapping
journalist's death. tion to “correct this injustice.” charge, which also carries the death
He warned the Sindh provincial gov- penalty in Pakistan.
Sheikh had long denied any involve- ernment against delaying their re- “Today’s decision is a complete trav-
ment in Pearl’s death, but the Su- lease, as it has done in the past with esty of justice and the release of these The court is expected to release a de-
preme Court on Wednesday heard his client, even after being slapped killers puts in danger journalists ev- tailed explanation for Thursday's de-
that he acknowledged writing a letter with a contempt charge. erywhere and the people of Pakistan,” cision in the coming days.