Daniel Pearl case: Centre expresses reservations over SHC ruling

ISLAMABAD: The federal government expressed its reservations over the Sindh High Court's (SHC) ruling in the Daniel Pearl case, the interior ministry said Friday, after the death penalty of the prime accused was overturned and his three accomplices acquitted.

Stating that although it was a provincial matter given that it was a criminal case, the interior ministry said that the matter had been taken up with the Sindh interior ministry as well.

The ministry added that the government of Sindh had decided to file an appeal against the SHC ruling next week with the Supreme Court of Pakistan. Until that was done, a case under public order law was filed against all four suspects, who were also put under house arrest under the Maintenance of Public Order Ordinance for three months.

Also read: Sindh prevents Daniel Pearl murder suspects from walking free

The centre, according to the interior ministry, advised the Sindh government to ensure that all the legal requirements were fulfilled and utilise the best resources to file the appeal in the top court. It also directed the provincial leadership to consult the Attorney General in this regard.

The federal government also reiterated the resolve to bring the terrorists to justice.

Sindh invokes public law order

Earlier today, the government of Sindh had invoked the Maintenance of Public Order (MPO) law to prevent all of the Daniel Pearl murder suspects from walking free and ordered they be kept in detention for another 90 days.

According to the Sindh home ministry's notification, the release of prime accused Omar Saeed Sheikh, Fahad Naseem, Syed Salman Saqib, and Sheikh Mohammad Adil could jeopardise the law and order situation in the province, thus necessitating their continued detention.

Related: SHC commutes death penalty of prime accused in Daniel Pearl murder case, acquits rest

Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi had told Geo News the centre was surprised at the verdict's timing and that the ruling would be challenged at a higher forum. Pakistan has sacrificed a lot in the fight against terrorism, he had added.

The United States, too, had expressed concern on the acquittal of all four suspects from terrorism charges, terming the development an insult to victims of terrorism everywhere.

In a statement, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Alice G. Wells had said: "We welcome Pakistan’s decision to appeal the verdict.

"Those responsible for Daniel's heinous kidnapping and murder must face the full measure of justice,” Wells had added.

The SHC had on Wednesday completely acquitted three suspects of involvement in the WSJ reporter's kidnapping and murder back in 2002, overturning Sheikh's death penalty for the murder and handing him a seven-year imprisonment sentence for abducting the journalist instead.