Pearl abduction: police now on trail of new man
KARACHI- Police is searching for a new character Haider Ali alias Mansoor Hasnain who is allegedly involved in US journalist Daniel Pearl’s kidnapping. The arrested prime suspect Shaikh Omar has mentioned his name during the interrogation.
According to sources a police party has gone to Punjab to hunt Haider Ali, as they had learnt that he belongs to Toba Tek Singh. The Sindh Home Secretary, Brig. (Retired) Mukhtar Ahmed is also in Lahore.
Omar has told the police that Pearl till the last reports was in possession of Haider Ali. Omar, when asked that where is Pearl, has said that he think he is dead, sources said. He (Omar) has told that he had not met Haider but only talked on phone, they added
Police said that Haider Ali had allegedly organized the hijacking of an Indian plane in 1999 to exchange detained Jehadis including Maulana Masood Azhar.
The police got mobile number and other record of accused Haider Ali and following the same; some 150 persons were taken into custody and questioned. But those were not important as most of them were estate agents, vegetable suppliers, taxi drivers and prize bond agents.
Sources said that police considers that Pearl is still in the custody of those, who had earlier kidnapped him. The investigation has been initiated now to confirm that Pearl is alive or not.
Police officials on Friday said they have “some fresh leads” on the disappearance of American journalist Daniel Pearl, despite fears that he may have been killed.
Police in Karachi, from where he disappeared three weeks ago, raided more houses overnight on Thursday but drew a blank. However, they said they were not ready to give up the search for Pearl.
The Deputy Inspector General (DIG) (Operations) of Karachi Police Tariq Jamil said they were progressing. “We remain hopeful that we will find him”.
Source: The Nation
Date:2/16/2002
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