Karachi | Wednesday
THE trial of four men accused of kidnapping and killing US reporter Daniel Pearl resumed in Pakistan on Wednesday, with the chief prosecutor saying he did not expect it to last much longer.
Raja Qureshi said he believed the trial could be wrapped up within the seven-day period allowed under Pakistan’s anti-terrorism laws, although it is common for such proceedings to take longer.
“Our effort will be to finish the trial in seven days,” he said before the trial resumed for its fifth official sitting on Wednesday, although there have only been two days of testimonies from witnesses.
British-born Islamic extremist Sheikh Omar (29) allegedly masterminded Pearl’s kidnapping and murder in a bid to secure the release of Pakistanis captured during the US-led war against the Taliban and al-Qaida.
He is standing trial for murder, kidnapping and terrorist activities along with three other men who allegedly sent e-mails showing pictures of Pearl in captivity with a gun to his head.
All four of the accused currently on trial pleaded not guilty to the charges on Monday. If convicted they face execution.
The trial, which officially began on April 5, has been adjourned twice due to legal technicalities and so far only five prosecution witnesses have been called.
A taxi driver has testified to seeing Pearl drive away in a car with Omar on the day of his abduction on January 23, while police officers have recounted that Omar confessed to the kidnapping during an earlier remand hearing, in statements which were not made under oath.
Another police liaison officer told the court on Tuesday that he had heard from Pearl’s wife, Mariane, that Omar was in e-mail contact with Pearl the day before he disappeared in this teeming southern city.
The trial is being held behind closed doors at a prison for security reasons, amid fears of reprisals from Islamic extremists.
The murder of the Wall Street Journal reporter was deeply embarrassing for Pakistan as it tried to show its commitment to the US-led war against terror.
Some analysts have questioned the fairness of the closed-door trial, but defence lawyers and Omar’s father, a London-based textile merchant, said they believe the proceedings are being conducted fairly. – AFP