Daniel Pearl’s family welcomes Pakistan’s bid to stop release of US journalist’s killers

The government has decided to challenge the verdict of a local court ordering the release of four men convicted of murdering the American journalist

The 38-year-old Wall Street Journal reporter was abducted in 2002 before being beheaded

Reading Time:2 minutes

Wall Street Journal reporter Daniel Pearl in captivity in 2002. Photo: AP

Published: 12:36pm, 25 Dec 2020Updated: 6:00pm, 25 Dec 2020

The father of slain American journalist Daniel Pearl on Friday welcomed Pakistan’s decision to challenge the verdict of a local court ordering the release of four militants convicted of murdering their son in 2002.

“We are heartened to hear that the government of Pakistan is filing an appeal against the release order so that our son’s murderers will remain in jail,” Daniel Pearl’s father Judea Pearl tweeted.

The decision by Sindh High Court to release the accused comes months after it sparked outrage for overturning the murder conviction and death sentence of Ahmed Omar Saeed Sheikh, and acquitted three other men connected to the case.

The four are being held under the emergency orders of the local government while an ongoing appeal against their acquittals is heard in the Supreme Court, but defence lawyers argued against their continued detention in the south of the country.

“We refuse to believe that Pakistan government and Pakistani people will let such a travesty of justice tarnish its name and justice will prevail,” Judea said, referring to the latest court order.

“We also have full confidence in the Supreme Court of Pakistan to provide justice for our beloved son and reinforce the paramount importance of the freedom of the press,” he added.