The United States secretary of state, Antony Blinken in his first statementon this matter said America was ready to prosecute Omar Saeed Sheikh, whohad been accused in the 2002 for being involved in the execution ofAmerican journalist, Daniel Pearllink in US courts, a day after he wasacquitted by the Supreme Court.
A three-judge Supreme Court bench on Thursday, acquitted Sheikh byextending the benefit of the doubt to him and ordered his release. TheSupreme Court issued the verdict on a petition filed by the Sindhgovernment and Pearl’s parents against a Sindh High Court (SHC) order forSheikh’s acquittal and immediate release.
Blinken, in a statement issued by his office late on Thursday evening, saidhe was “deeply concerned by the Pakistani Supreme Court’s decision toacquit those involved in Daniel Pearl’s kidnapping and murder and anyproposed action to release them”.
“We are also prepared to prosecute Sheikh in the United States for hishorrific crimes against an American citizen,” the statement read further.
“We are committed to securing justice for Daniel Pearl’s family and holdingterrorists accountable.”
The chief US diplomat, who took charge of his office on Wednesday, recalledthat Sheikh had been indicted in the US in 2002 for hostage-taking andconspiracy to commit hostage-taking, resulting in the murder of Pearl, theSouth Asia Bureau Chief for the Wall Street Journal, as well as the 1994kidnapping of another American citizen in India.
Blinken termed the verdict as an “affront to terrorism victims everywhere”and said that the US expected Pakistan’s authorities to “expeditiouslyreview its legal options to ensure justice is served”.
“The court’s decision is an affront to terrorism victims everywhere,including in Pakistan. The United States recognises past Pakistani actionsto hold Omar Sheikh accountable and notes that Sheikh currently remainsdetained under Pakistani law,” he said.
Blinken, moreover took note of the attorney general of Pakistan’s statementwhich said that the latter intended to seek a review of the verdict.