Pearl murder case takes new turn as Omar denies kidnapping, killing
KARACHI- The prime accused Ahmad Omar Saeed Sheikh in US journalist Daniel Pearl’s abduction and murder case has contended that he is innocent and neither committed any crime nor kidnapped or killed any person.
He made the statement before the Judge of Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC-III) Karachi Arshad Noor Khan on Friday, the second day of hearing of Pearl murder case being held inside Central Prison Karachi.
Sheikh Omar’s counsel Abdul Waheed Katpar informed newsmen about his statement after the court proceedings. He said Omar also stated before the court: “I don’t accept this British law,” and requested the court to try him in a Shariah Court. The court observed on his submission that the British law was being practiced in Pakistan since many decades.
Omar Sheikh and other three co-accused Sheikh Muhammad Adil, Syed Salman Saqib and Fahad Nasim were produced before the court.
The prosecution agency produced before the court a report of police inspector assigned to serve the warrants issued by the court on April 5 to seven absconding accused. The process server submitted that he did not succeed in tracing or arresting the absconders. The court, therefore, declared the absconders – Amjad Husain Farooqi alias Haider Farooqi alias Hasan, Asif alias Qasim, Hashim, Qari Abdul Qadeer, Hasan alias Ahmad Bhai, Imtiaz Siddiqi and a person who bought Polaroid camera – as proclaimed offenders. It directed the prosecution to publicise their names and other details in three national newspapers and also ordered, under Section 87 and 88 of ATA 1997, to attach their moveable and immovable properties and put off further hearing till April 22 for framing charges on the accused.
Police and paramilitary forces had surrounded the central prison since early in the morning and the jail authorities did not allow any reporter to enter. Reporters stopped the judge’s car at the entrance of the jail and complained about the jail officials’ attitude. The jail authorities, however, allowed entry of newsmen into the jail premises at 10:40am but did not permit them to witness the proceedings of the case.
“Today’s proceedings lasted for about 30 minutes,” informed Salman Saqib’s counsel Rai Basheer after the court proceedings. He said the court rejected his application for providing a certified copy of the videocassette containing scenes of beheading of Daniel Pearl. The court, he said, dismissed it as the cassette was not on judicial record and even judge had not witnessed it.
Regarding medical treatment to Salman Saqib, the counsel said Salman submitted before the court that Aga Khan University Hospital did not allow its doctors to examine any patient outside the hospital and the court allowed Dr Tabish Chawla to examine the accused in jail. It may be noted that on April 5 the court appointed Dr Tabish for examining Salman at his own expanses as he was suffering from Hepatitis C.
Khwaja Naveed Ahmad, representing Sheikh Adil and Fahad Nasim, told reporters that the court allowed Adil’s mother and his brother Sheikh Aslam to meet him in accordance to the jail manual.
Regarding their presence during the trial, he said they were still not allowed to witness the court proceedings. However, he said Sheikh Omar’s father Saeed Sheikh was present during the hearing. He also informed that the court put off hearing till April 22 when charges would be framed.
Regarding the contempt application filed by six reporters of local dailies against superintendent jail, Khwaja Naveed said the court could not take up the matter as none of the applicants appeared before the court.
PRESS BRIEFING: The jail authorities arranged a press briefing of the AG Sindh on the proceedings of the case on the day. It was held at the office of the Inspector General (IG) Prisons Sindh Brig Nisar Mehar. The local media did not attend it in protest, however, representative of foreign media attended it.
It is noteworthy that in the final charge sheet, submitted by the prosecution on March 29, all the accused, including absconders, have been booked in this case for kidnapping, murder and terrorism. Each Section carries maximum sentence of death.
Correspondent of Wall Street Journal Daniel Pearl was kidnapped by some unknown people on Jan 23, 2002 and the kidnappers sent two email messages to a foreign media organisation containing photographs of Daniel Pearl in captivity. On Feb 22, 2002 the government announced him dead after examining videotape sent to the US Consulate in Karachi.
Source: The News
Date:4/13/2002
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