Daniel Pearl murder Pakistan SC orders release of prime accused in Daniel Pearl murder case
Islamabad/IBNS: Pakistan's Supreme Court on Thursday ordered the release of Islamist Ahmed Omar Saeed Sheikh, the principal accused in the 2002 beheading of American journalist Daniel Pearl.
The country's apex court dismissed an appeal by the Sindh government against the Sindh High Court (SHC) order for his immediate release.
The Sindh High Court had ordered the immediate release of Sheikh declaring his connection with the abduction and murder of US journalist Daniel Pearl null and void.
The order to free Sheikh on Thursday was issued by a three-judge SC bench of Pakistan headed by Justice Mushir Alam. One member of the bench opposed the decision.
The decision has left Daniel Pearl's family shocked, media reports quoting their lawyer said.
"Today's decision is a complete travesty of justice and the release of these killers puts in danger journalists everywhere and the people of Pakistan," the Pearl family said in a statement released by their lawyer to media.
The American Jewish Committee (AJC) in reaction to the court judgement said the order in an "unfathomable affront to justice and human decency".
"The release of Ahmed Omar Saeed Sheikh, an Islamist convicted in the kidnapping and murder of American Jewish journalist Daniel Pearl, is an unfathomable affront to justice and human decency. This sends a dangerous signal to extremists in Pakistan, and beyond," it tweeted.
The release of Ahmed Omar Saeed Sheikh, an Islamist convicted in the kidnapping and murder of American Jewish journalist Daniel Pearl, is an unfathomable affront to justice and human decency. This sends a dangerous signal to extremists in Pakistan, and beyond. https://t.co/hpv0hUPTNF
— American Jewish Committee (@AJCGlobal) January 28, 2021
Sheikh was the main suspect in the 2002 kidnapping and murder of Wall Street Journal reporter Pearl.
It was not immediately clear whether “acquittal” meant that he was freed of all the charges or that Sheikh had merely finished his jail terms.
Sheikh has served 18 years in jail and a life sentence is usually a maximum of 14 years.
Earlier, a US Attorney General had said that his nation 'stands ready' to take custody of Omar Sheikh.
Journalist Daniel Pearl murder case: US ‘stands ready’ to try prime accused Omar Shiekh
Sheikh was convicted on charges of luring Pearl to a meeting in Karachi from where he was kidnapped and subsequently murdered.
In 2002, Pearl, who was the South Asia bureau chief for The Wall Street Journal, was abducted and murdered while he was in Pakistan.
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