Daniel Pearl's murder: Pakistan's apex court adjourns hearing against acquittals of 4 al-Qaeda terrorists

Pakistan's Supreme Court on Tuesday journed for two weeks appeals hearing against acquittal of British-born al-Qaeda leer Ahmed Omar Saeed Sheikh and his three aides in abduction and murder of US journalist Daniel Pearl in 2002.

Faisal Sdiqi, a lawyer for Pearl family, told media that top court postponed hearing because chief prosecutor failed to show up following a death in family.

court fixed next hearing on September 29.

Pearl, 38-year-old South Asia bureau chief for Wall Street Journal, was abducted and beheed while he was in Pakistan investigating a story in 2002 on alleged links between country's powerful spy ncy ISI and al-Qaeda.

On April 2, a two-judge Sindh High Court bench overturned death sentence of 46-year-old al-Qaeda leer, who was convicted in abduction and murder of Pearl in 2002. He has been in jail for past 18 years.

court also acquitted his three aides - Fah Naseem, Salman Saqib and Sheikh il- serving life sentences in case.

Two days after Sindh High Court overturned Sheikh's conviction, Sindh government invoked Maintenance of Public Order to keep four convicts in jail.

province filed an appeal in Supreme Court against ir acquittal. Pearl's parents also filed an appeal to Supreme Court against judgment of high court to release accused.

Unless apex court overturned high court judgment, Sheikh would walk free as he alrey served 18 years behind bars which is more than life time imprisonment in Pakistan which runs for 14 years. 

Im credit: AP