ISLAMABAD: Parents of Daniel Pearl filed an appeal with SCP here today to reverse a SHC decision acquitting 4 accused in the 2002 kidnapping and beheading of their son.
The SHC had on acquitted three accused and commuted the death sentence awarded to the prime suspect Ahmed Omar Saeed Sheikh into life imprisonment.
Pearl’s father, Judea Pearl proclaimed: “We have filed an appeal of this decision to the Pakistan Supreme Court.We are standing up for justice not only for our son but for all our dear friends in Pakistan so they can live in a society free of violence and terror and raise their children in peace and harmony.”
It may be recalled that on 2nd of April, 2020 SHC had acquitted main accused Ahmed Omar Saeed Sheikh and his three accomplices. Their advocate had maintained that SHC had misapplied the burden and the standard of proof erroneously to the facts of this case.
This decision had also been challenged in the apex court by the government of Sindh requesting an early hearing of the appeal. Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi had earlier stated that Sindh Government would challenge Sindh High Court (SHC)’s verdict in Daniel Pearl murder case.
FM noted that the reservations over the verdict regarding Daniel Pearl case seemed quite natural. The Foreign Minister said accused in Daniel Pearl were arrested and faced trial as a result of which three people had to face imprisonment, while central figure Sheikh Umar was handed down death penalty. Shah Mehmood Qureshi said accused had used their right to appeal.
US top diplomat for South Asia, Alice Wells had also taken to Twitter to condemn SHC decision apropos Daniel Pearl’s case.
Alice Wells maintained that Daniel Pearl’s kidnappers and murderers must face the full measure of justice.
Terming the verdict an affront to victims of terrorism, Wells lauded the prosecutor’s insinuation about appealing the judgment in SCP.
Meanwhile, Sindh Govt. invoked the Maintenance of Public Order (MPO) law to detain all the accused for another three months maintaining that release of prime accused Omar Saeed Sheikh, Fahad Naseem, Syed Salman Saqib, and Sheikh Mohammad Adil could jeopardize the law and order situation in the province.
Relevant pieces published earlier:
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