Pakistan Court Orders Man Convicted of Murdering Wall Street Journal Reporter Daniel Pearl to Be Freed

In April, the court established apart the death sentence handed down to Mr. Sheikh for terrorism, kidnapping for ransom, and murder, downgrading it to the lesser criminal offense of kidnapping. As kidnapping carries a highest of seven a long time in jail, and Mr. Sheikh experienced now been locked up for eighteen a long time at that level, he was eligible for release.

Three accomplices who have been sentenced to life in prison at the same 2002 trial experienced their convictions entirely overturned in the April ruling.

On the other hand, Mr. Sheikh and the 3 others remained in prison just after Pakistani authorities utilised crisis detention powers.

On Thursday, the judges ruled that the use of people powers was not justified in this circumstance, the accused’s attorney,

Mahmood

Sheikh, reported, including that his consumer is not allowed to go away the nation.

The attorney reported he expected Mr. Sheikh to be freed this 7 days, along with 3 accused accomplices.

“The court has directed that they will not be arrested by any agency, no motion detrimental to their liberty will be taken,” Mr. Sheikh’s attorney reported.

A senior authorities attorney,

Salman Talibuddin,

who serves as advocate general for the southern province of Sindh and who appeared for the authorities in the circumstance, confirmed the court experienced requested the release. The court is expected to problem a composed ruling later Thursday.

The authorities and the Pearl relatives have individually appealed versus the April overturning of Mr. Sheikh’s conviction to the Supreme Court. The upcoming hearing in that different circumstance is thanks in early January.

Mr. Pearl, then the Journal’s bureau chief for South Asia, was reporting on militant networks in Pakistan when he was kidnapped in Karachi in January 2002 and killed days later.

Produce to Saeed Shah at [email protected]

Corrections & Amplifications
Salman Talibuddin is advocate general for the southern province of Sindh. An previously version of this report improperly mentioned his title. (Corrected on Dec. 24)