Killing of Daniel Pearl: SC rejects Sindh govt’s plea to extend detention of four accused

ISLAMABAD: The top court of the country on Wednesday rejected the Sindh government’s request to further extend the detention period of four accused on death row over the 2002 killing of American journalist Daniel Pearl.

The prosecutor general for Sindh provincial government requested the apex court to grant some more time to prepare the case besides extending the detention of the four accused. However, the three-judge bench headed by Justice Mushir Alam turned down his request, saying the Sindh government already had the detention extended by three months. “You’ve already been given three months extension [in the case] and there could be no further extension,” observed Justice Alam.

In exercise of power vested under West Pakistan of Maintenance Public Order Ordinance 1960, the Sindh provincial government extended the detention of the accused, – Ahmed Sheikh, Fahad Nasim Ahmed, Syed Salman Saqib, and Sheikh Muhammad Adil, thrice.

Justice Qazi Muhammad Amin Ahmed wondered why the provincial government wanted to detain the accused persons after the Sindh High Court’s judgment.

Mahmood Sheikh, the counsel for the accused persons, said that accused, Ahmad Sheikh, who was awarded a seven-year punishment, had spent 18 years in jail. In April, the SHC had commuted the death sentence of the man convicted of kidnapping and murdering the American journalist in 2002 to seven years, and acquitted three others who were serving life terms in the case – almost two decades after they were found guilty and jailed. However, the accused persons are yet to be released.

The hearing of the case was adjourned till October 21st.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2020