Islamabad: Pakistan’s Supreme Court last week ordered the release of Ahmed Omar Saeed Sheikh, the principal accused in the 2002 beheading of American journalist Daniel Pearl, dismissing the appeal of the government of Sindh province against a high court order for his immediate release. Pearl’s family said, “Today’s decision is a complete travesty of justice and the release of these killers puts in danger journalists everywhere and the people of Pakistan.”
The order was issued by a three-judge SC bench, of which one member opposed the decision. Sheikh’s lawyer said that according to the SC, there wasn’t sufficient evidence to prove that he had committed the offence. Provincial attorney Salman Talibuddin said the court also ordered that three others who had been sentenced to life in prison for their part in Pearl’s kidnapping and death be freed. Faisal Siddiqi, the lawyer representing Pearl’s family, said the only legal avenue would be to ask for a review. He, however, said the review would be conducted by the same court. “In practical terms, there are no further legal avenues.”
In April last year, the Sindh HC had overturned the death sentence of Sheikh, who had been convicted of the 2002 kidnapping and killing of the US journalist by an anti-terrorism court, into seven years’ imprisonment and acquitted the three others. Sheikh, who had already spent 18 years in prison, was expected to be released after the verdict. The accused, however, were not released as the Sindh government kept them behind bars under the Maintenance of Public Order law.
US seeks custody of Omar Sheikh
The Biden administration said it is ready to take custody of Omar Sheikh to stand trial in the US, even as the Pakistan hurriedly concocted a review petition against its Supreme Court’s acquittal of Omar Sheikh. Washington’s shock and anger at Pakistan was expressed in restrained statements from the White House, the state department, the justice department, and Congress, urging Islamabad to review its legal options to ensure justice is served. “The US stands ready to take custody of Sheikh to stand trial here on the pending charges against him. He must not be permitted to evade justice for his charged role in Daniel Pearl’s abduction and murder,” the US justice department, under whose jurisdiction the FBI falls, said.
