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Pakistan’s government on Friday appealed to the Supreme Court to review its decision to free Ahmad Omar Saeed Sheikh convicted of kidnapping and beheading US journalist Daniel Pearl, a day after the United States expressed “deep concerns” over the ruling.
Family praises Pakistan’s bid to stop release of US journalist Daniel Pearl murderers
Pakistan court orders release of man charged in Daniel Pearl killing
The government in southern Sindh province filed a petition asking the top court to review its decision, the Pearl family’s lawyer Faisal Siddiqi and the Sindh government’s prosecutor told Reuters.
“We have filed three review petitions,” prosecutor Faiz Shah said, explaining that the petitions would seek a reversal of the acquittal and the reinstatement of Sheikh’s death penalty.
“Being aggrieved of and dissatisfied with the judgement, thepetitioner files an instant criminal review petition for leave to appeal on matters of law, facts and grounds,” the petition seeking the reversal of the aquittal said.
Pearl, 38, was investigating Islamist militants in Karachi after the September 11, 2001, attacks on the United States when he was kidnapped. A video of his beheading emerged weeks later.
His parents expressed shock over the Supreme Court’s decision, which US Secretary of State Antony Blinken called “an affront to terrorism victims everywhere, including in Pakistan.”
Washington was also prepared to prosecute Sheikh in the United States, Blinken said.
Daniel Pearl
A high court last year commuted Sheikh’s death penalty into a life sentence and acquitted his three co-accused, citing lack of evidence.
The government and Pearl’s parents challenged that decision and pleaded to the Supreme Court to reinstate the death penalty, that was turned down on Thursday.
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Last Update: Friday, 29 January 2021 KSA 18:33 – GMT 15:33
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