PAKISTAN: The British Islamist who has confessed to masterminding the kidnapping of American reporter Daniel Pearl in Pakistan was yesterday charged with his murder and faces execution if convicted.
Former public schoolboy Ahmed Omar Saeed Sheikh appeared before an anti-terrorism court in Karachi, as some 100 armed police surrounded the building. The chief prosecutor, Mr Raja Quereshi, accused Mr Saeed (28) and three alleged accomplices of kidnapping, murder and terrorism. Seven other suspects were indicted in absentia. The court was scheduled to convene again on March 29th.
Mr Saeed, from Wanstead, east London, and his co-defendant, Sheikh Mohammed Adeel, were brought to court in an armoured car that was escorted by two dozen police vans mounted with machine guns. The other two suspects in custody, Mr Fahad Naseem and Mr Salman Saqib, were not present since they had already appeared before a judge and were remanded to jail.
Mr Saeed, a London School of Economics drop-out, confessed in court last month that he abducted Pearl, but has since withdrawn the statement, which was not made under oath and is considered inadmissible as evidence. Mr Saeed has said he wants to defend himself in court.
The case against Mr Saeed relies heavily on the testimony of a taxi-driver, Mr Nasir Abbas, who told police he drove Pearl to a restaurant and saw him shake hands with Mr Saeed before getting into a car with him.
Other evidence includes e-mails showing photographs of Pearl in chains and a video received by the US Consulate in Karachi that allegedly proves Pearl was murdered.
"We have circumstantial evidence and also the video-tape of Daniel Pearl's murder," Mr Quereshi said. Two of the suspects have submitted confessions implicating Mr Saeed in the plot. Their lawyer said he would move to have the confessions blocked.
The United States also intends to prosecute Mr Saeed and he could face the death penalty if sent to the US and convicted.
Gen Pervez Musharraf, Pakistan's military ruler who is seeking to stay in power for five more years, is likely hold a referendum in October that could throw him out of office, it was reported yesterday.