Pakistan court commutes death sentence of prime accused in US journalist Daniel Pearl murder case

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Ahmed Omar Saeed Sheikh, Pakistan

Karachi - "The overturning of the convictions for Daniel Pearl's murder is an affront to victims of terrorism everywhere," said Alice Wells, the top US diplomat for South Asia.

By PTI and AFP

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Published: Thu 2 Apr 2020, 9:53 AM

Last updated: Fri 3 Apr 2020, 4:12 AM

A Pakistan court on Thursday commuted the death sentence of the prime accused in the 2002 murder case of US journalist Daniel Pearl to seven years in jail, according to media reports.

The Sindh High Court overturned the verdict earlier given by the anti-terrorism court (ATC) to UK-born Ahmed Omar Sheikh, the prime accused, The Express Tribune reported.

The other three convicts, who were earlier given life sentences, were also acquitted by the court, the Dawn reported.

A high court division bench led by Justice K K Agha had reserved its ruling on March 6 after after five days of consecutive hearings.
Daniel Pearl, a 38-year-old American journalist, was abducted in Karachi while researching a story on Pakistan terrorists for the Wall Street Journal in the months after the 11 September 2001 attacks on the United States. His remains were later found in a grave on the outskirts of the port city.
The United States on Thursday criticised the Pakistani court's overturning of the death sentence, calling the decision an "affront."
"The overturning of the convictions for Daniel Pearl's murder is an affront to victims of terrorism everywhere," said Alice Wells, the top US diplomat for South Asia.
She welcomed indications that Pakistani prosecutors would appeal the decision on British-born militant Ahmed Omar Saeed Sheikh.
"Those responsible for Daniel's heinous kidnapping and murder must face the full measure of justice," Wells wrote on Twitter.
 


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