New lady comes in focus Daniel Pearl case
HYDERABAD- The Anti-terrorism Court (ATC), Hyderabad, on Saturday examined Rao Aslam, the first investigating officer of the Daniel Pearl’s kidnapping-cum-murder case.
During his cross-examination, which continued till the court adjourned the hearing till June 5, Rao Aslam deposed that ‘for security reasons’ he avoided making any entry at the Rawalpindi police station or calling police help in connection with his visit to Akbar Hotel where Ahmed Omar Saeed Sheikh had stayed. He admitted that he did not prepare map of the hotel and the room where Omar Sheikh stayed.
Defence counsels have completed cross-examination of another prosecution witness Mehmood Iqbal Hashmi, administrator of an Internet service provider’s office.
The court did not pass any order on the application of the Chief Prosecutor and Advocate General (AG) Sindh, Raja Qureshi who had sought appointment of a commission to record statement of Mariane Pearl, wife of the slain journalist. She has given birth to a baby boy two days back in France.
Raja Qureshi opposed the long adjournment on the ground that the proceedings were being on a day-to-day basis as mandated by law.
On June 4, the prosecution and defence lawyers would be busy attending Sindh High Court (SHC), Karachi, in connection with hearing of criminal revision application, filed by the AG Sindh. The AG has prayed to the court to set aside an order of the ATC Hyderabad calling for the release of a videocassette containing material related to the murder of Daniel Pearl.
The ATC has allowed meeting of veil-observing female relatives of accused in presence of a female warden inside the jail.
Raja Qureshi told newsmen that Barrister Jamil did not furnish any fresh communication on behalf of his client, Mariane Pearl, and added that her arrival from France depended on her doctors’ permission.
He said that Rao Aslam produced before the court the documents related to e-mails and other recoveries made in the case. The e-mails, the AG stated, contained photographs and messages concerning Daniel Pearl and were sent to Miss Asra Nomani, the host of Daniel Pearl, though the actual addressee appeared to be Mariane Pearl.
Giving details of cross-examination of Mehmood Iqbal Hashmi and Rao Aslam, the defence counsel, Rai Basheer Ahmed, said that Hashmi admitted that he had no record of e-mails, which could prove that these were sent by the accused. He said that the e-mails were sent to Miss Nomani, who claimed to be a freelance journalist. He pointed out that Miss Nomani, a Pakistani, had dual nationality of USA and Pakistan.
The counsel said that there was no mention of Miss Nomani in the entire prosecution case in spite of the fact that she had stayed with Daniel Pearl and accompanied him to a village restaurant when he was abducted.
Owner of the Zamzama Street residence at Clifton, Rai Basheer claimed, the same lady was also involved in correspondence/ negotiations with kidnappers through e-mails. He further informed the newsmen that the US immigration authorities had twice refused visa to the lady to travel to Pakistan but she got the same with Daniel Pearl’s favour.
About examination-in-chief and cross-examination of Rao Aslam, the defence counsel said that the Investigation Officer (IO) admitted he did not secure any rent agreement of Mariane Pearl’s house but categorically denied having come across Miss Nomani.
The counsel pointed out to the IO that the lady could be the main accused or a witness in the case had she been included in the investigation.
According to Rai Basheer, the IO told the court that he did not collect any evidence proving that Amir Afzal was an employee of Akbar International Hotel and also did not record the hotel manager’s statement.
The counsel pointed out that the IO did not include Arif in the investigation although the person was referred by one of the friends of Asif Mehfooz Farooqui. The counsel argued that Arif had taken Asif Farooqui and Daniel Pearl to the hotel for a meeting with Pir Mubarak Ali Shah Gillani whose statement was recorded by the IO in Lahore.
The counsel said that Asif Farooqui did not disclose the identity of his friend who sent Arif to him although he could be the main accused.
Source: Dawn
Date:6/1/2002
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