Pakistan appeals against freeing Islamists convicted of U.S. journalist Pearl's beheading Daniel Pearl was investigating Islamist militants in Karachi after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on the United States when he was kidnapped. A video of his beheading emerged weeks later. Written By: Syed Raza Hassan and Asif Shahzad / Reuters | 2:22 pm, Jan. 29, 2021 × 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 on March 5, 2002. Pearl was murdered after being captured in Pakistan and held hostage as his captors attempted to bargain the release of prisoners held by the U.S. in Cuba. REUTERS/Ian Waldie IW/NMB/File Photo