Daniel Pearl murder: Detention of accused extended by 3 months

KARACHI: The government of Sindh has extended the detention of four accused in the murder of American journalist Daniel Pearl for three months.

The main accused Ahmed Omar Saeed Sheikh also known as Sheikh Omar, Fahad Naseem, Salman Saqib and Sheikh Adil will be detained for three months under the Maintenance of Public Order (MPO) and are expected to be kept at Karachi Central Jail or Sukkur Jail.

The Sindh Home Department said that the accused have been detained under the Anti-Terrorism Act’s Section 11 (E). The provincial authorities had raised concerns the accused could regroup and organise a terrorist network after release from jail.

On 2nd April, the Sindh High Court had overturned the conviction of four convicts in Daniel Pearl murder case who was brutally killed on 1st February, 2002 in Karachi.

READ MORE: SC rejects Sindh govt’s plea in Daniel Pearl case

The Sindh government has challenged the order in the Supreme Court. On 29nd June, the top court rejected a request by the Sindh government to grant a stay order against the SHC’s verdict.

A bench headed by Justice Mushir Alam took up appeals by the provincial government and two independent appeals by the parents of Daniel Pearl against the acquittal of the convicts.

Senior lawyer Farooq H. Naek, representing Sindh government, stated that the accused are global terrorists and have been detained under MPO after their acquittal due to security concerns. He cautioned their release could have serious consequences.

Justice Mushir Alam said the apex court cannot suspend the verdict without a solid reason and could only be done in case of legal loopholes. However, the judge suggested the government can extend the detention of accused under the MPO.