Parents of slain American journalist Daniel Pearl have approached the Pakistan Supreme Court against the Sindh High Courts (SHC) verdict acquitting and releasing the prime accused in their son’s murder case 18 years ago.
Bengaluru: As reported by a popular website, parents of slain American journalist Daniel Pearl have approached the Pakistan Supreme Court against the Sindh High Courts (SHC) verdict acquitting and releasing the prime accused in their son’s murder case 18 years ago.
It added that two criminal petitions have been filed by renowned lawyer Faisal Siddiqi on behalf of the parents, Ruth and Judie Pearl, against the acquittal and release of the four accused, including the main accused, British-born Ahmed Omar Saeed Sheikh.
"The decision by the Sindh High Court to free the men in the murder of Daniel Pearl is a complete miscarriage of justice. It is a defining case for the Pakistani state and its judicial system, involving freedom of the press, the sanctity of every life, freedom from terror and the manifestation of a welcoming and safe Pakistan to the world. Rarely has any court case embodied and risked such fundamental values.”
Siddiqi further added in the petition submitted that the provincial high court's judgement, has itself held that the present case was a "very sensitive case where a foreign journalist was murdered in the most brutal circumstances that would have spread terror amongst other foreigners in Pakistan and the journalist community as a whole", as reported by The Express Tribune.
"Therefore, in light of its own finding and the strong incriminating evidence establishing the case for kidnapping for ransom of the deceased person, Sindh High Court has erred in giving the aforementioned findings," said the petition submitted in the apex court.
Pearl was South Asia bureau chief for The Wall Street Journal when he was abducted in Karachi in January 2002 while researching a story about religious extremism.
A graphic video showing his decapitation was delivered to the US consulate nearly a month later.
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