Expressing concern over the acquittal of these concerned within the brutal homicide of Daniel Pearl in 2002, a senior UN official representing Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has mentioned it is vital that there’s accountability for such crimes.
Pearl, the 38-year-old South Asia bureau chief for The Wall Street Journal, had visited Pakistan to report on Islamist militant networks within the nation and on the hyperlinks between the nation’s highly effective spy company ISI and al-Qaeda following the September 11, 2001 terror strikes. He was kidnapped in Karachi, the capital of Sindh, and beheaded days later.
Pakistan’s Supreme Court on Thursday dismissed appeals towards the acquittal of British-born al-Qaeda terrorist Ahmed Omar Sheikh within the kidnapping and homicide case of Pearl and ordered his launch, a judgement denounced by the American journalist’s household as “a complete travesty of justice.”
The apex courtroom cleared Sheikh and his three Pakistani accomplices within the case of all the fees, ordering that Sheikh and others be instantly free of jail.
Responding to a query on Sheikh’s acquittal, Spokesman for the UN chief Stephane Dujarric mentioned on Friday: “What is important that there be accountability for those crimes committed”.
Pearl’s homicide occurred three years after Sheikh, together with Jaish-e-Mohammad chief Masood Azhar and Mushtaq Ahmed Zargar, was launched by India in 1999 and given secure passage to Afghanistan in change for the practically 150 passengers of hijacked Indian Airlines Flight 814.
He was serving a jail time period in India for kidnappings of Western vacationers within the nation.
In April 2020, a two-judge Sindh High Court bench commuted the loss of life sentence of 46-year-old Sheikh to seven years imprisonment. The courtroom additionally acquitted his three aides who have been serving life phrases within the case – nearly 20 years after they have been discovered responsible and jailed.
The Sindh authorities and household of Pearl filed petitions within the apex courtroom, difficult the excessive courtroom verdict.
The US has been mounting strain on Pakistan, demanding justice for Pearl.
Last month, the US mentioned it was able to take custody of Sheikh, asserting that Washington won’t enable him to evade justice.
Acting Attorney General Monty Wilkinson mentioned the US was deeply involved by the ruling affirming the acquittal of people convicted by a Pakistani trial courtroom.
“The release of those involved would be an affront to Daniel Pearl’s family, to other terrorism victims around the world, and to the cause of justice,” Wilkinson mentioned.
In a tweet, Congressman Brad Sherman mentioned: “The killers of Daniel Pearl go free. And Dr. Afridi, who helped the US get Osama Bin Laden, rots in jail.”
“We are deeply disappointed that Pakistan’s Supreme Court has acquitted and ordered the release of Ahmad Saeed Omar Sheikh, despite overwhelming evidence of Sheikh’s involvement in the kidnapping of Daniel Pearl, which led directly to his murder,” mentioned Steven Butler, Committee to Protect Journalist’s Asia programme coordinator.
