Pakistan’s Supreme Court has ordered the release of a British-born man convicted and later acquitted over the beheading of American journalist Daniel Pearl in 2002.
The court also dismissed an appeal against Ahmed Omar Saeed Sheikh’s acquittal by Mr Pearl’s family and the Pakistani government.
Mr Sheikh has been on death row since his conviction for the death of Mr Pearl in 2002. His lawyer said Sheikh “should not have spent one day in jail”.
Lawyer Mehmood A Sheikh said the court also ordered the release of three other Pakistanis who had been sentenced to life in prison for their part in Mr Pearl’s kidnapping and murder.
20 shares In this March 29, 2002, photo, Ahmed Omar Saeed Sheikh, the alleged mastermind behind Wall Street Journal reporter Daniel Pearl s kidnap-slaying, is escorted by police in Karachi, Pakistan. (Aamir Qureshi/AFP)
ISLAMABAD (AP) Pakistan’s Supreme Court ordered the release Thursday of a Pakistani-British man convicted and later acquitted in the beheading of American journalist Daniel Pearl in 2002.
The court also dismissed an appeal of Ahmad Saeed Omar Sheikh’s acquittal by Pearl’s family and the Pakistani government. It wasn’t immediately clear when Sheikh would be freed; the government of the Sindh province where he is being held has previously refused to honor such release orders.
Pakistani court orders release of man accused of beheading American journalist Daniel Pearl
By Kathy Gannon article
Pakistani police surround handcuffed Omar Sheikh as he comes out of a court on March 29, 2002, in port city of Karachi. (Photo credit: AAMIR QURESHI/AFP via Getty Images)
ISLAMABAD (AP) - Pakistan’s Supreme Court ordered the release Thursday of a Pakistani-British man convicted and later acquitted in the beheading of American journalist Daniel Pearl in 2002.
The court also dismissed an appeal of Ahmad Saeed Omar Sheikh s acquittal by Pearl’s family and the Pakistani government. It wasn’t immediately clear whether Sheikh would be freed Thursday; the government of the province where he is being held has previously refused to honor such release orders.
UPDATE 2-Islamist convicted of beheading U.S. journalist Daniel Pearl to go free, victim s family in shock 28 Jan 2021 / 19:44 H.
By Syed Raza Hassan and Asif Shahzad
KARACHI, Pakistan, Jan 28 (Reuters) - Pakistan s Supreme Court on Thursday ordered the release of an Islamist convicted of beheading U.S. journalist Daniel Pearl, a decision that has left his family in complete shock , lawyers said.
Ahmed Omar Saeed Sheikh, who was the main suspect in the 2002 kidnapping and murder of Wall Street Journal reporter Pearl, was released by a panel of three judges. By a majority of two to one, they have acquitted all the accused persons and ordered their release, a provincial advocate general, Salman Talibuddin, told Reuters.
3 Min Read
KARACHI, Pakistan (Reuters) - Pakistan’s government on Friday appealed to the Supreme Court to review its decision to free a British-born Islamist and three others convicted of beheading U.S. journalist Daniel Pearl in 2002.
FILE PHOTO: A portrait of the Wall Street Journal s reporter Daniel Pearl stands with a candle at the altar at Fleet Street s journalists chapel St Brides Church prior to a memorial service in London March 5, 2002. REUTERS/Ian Waldie IW/NMB/File Photo
The United States has expressed concern over the ruling and top U.S. diplomat Antony Blinken repeated a call for accountability in his first phone call with Pakistan’s foreign minister on Friday.