US journalist Pearl’s beheading: Pakistan govt appeals against acquittal by top court

Pakistan’s government on Friday appealed to the Supreme Court to review its decision to free Ahmad Omar Saeed Sheikh convicted of kidnapping and beheading US journalist Daniel Pearl, a day after the United States expressed “deep concerns” over the ruling.

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A panel of three judges of the court on Thursday acquitted British-born ASheikh and his three co-accused, who had been convicted in 2002 on charges of kidnapping and murder of the Wall Street Journal reporter.

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The court ordered Sheikh and his co-accused released forthwith if they are not required in any other case.

The government in southern Sindh province filed a petition asking the top court to review its decision, the Pearl family’s lawyer Faisal Siddiqi and the Sindh government’s prosecutor told Reuters.

“We have filed three review petitions,” prosecutor Faiz Shah said, explaining that the petitions would seek a reversal of the acquittal and the reinstatement of Sheikh’s death penalty.

“Being aggrieved of and dissatisfied with the judgement, thepetitioner files an instant criminal review petition for leave to appeal on matters of law, facts and grounds,” the petition seeking the reversal of the aquittal said.

Pearl, 38, was investigating Islamist militants in Karachi after the September 11, 2001, attacks on the United States when he was kidnapped. A video of his beheading emerged weeks later.

A portrait of the Wall Street Journal's reporter Daniel Pearl at St. Brides Church prior to a memorial service in London March 5, 2002. (Reuters)

His parents expressed shock over the Supreme Court’s decision, which US Secretary of State Antony Blinken called “an affront to terrorism victims everywhere, including in Pakistan.”

Washington was also prepared to prosecute Sheikh in the United States, Blinken said.

Sheikh Aslam (R), a relative of one of the accused of murdering US journalist Daniel Pearl and his lawyer Nadeem Azhar speak with media representatives outside a prison in Karachi on December 24, 2020. (AFP)

A high court last year commuted Sheikh’s death penalty into a life sentence and acquitted his three co-accused, citing lack of evidence.

The government and Pearl’s parents challenged that decision and pleaded to the Supreme Court to reinstate the death penalty, that was turned down on Thursday.