Omar Sheikh must not be permitted to evade justice in Daniel Pearl's murder, says US Justice Dept

Expressing concern over the acquittal in the Daniel Pearl murder cases, the US Justice Department on Thursday said Ahmad Omar Saeed Sheikh must not be permitted to evade justice for his role in the abduction and murder of the American citizen.

Expressing concern over the acquittal in the Del Pearl murder cases, the US Justice Department on Thursday said Ahmad Omar Saeed Sheikh must not be permitted to evade justice for his role in the abduction and murder of the American citizen.

"We are deeply concerned by the Pakist Supreme Court's ruling affirming the acquittal of individuals convicted by a Pakist trial court for the kidnapping and murder of Del Pearl. Ahmad Omar Saeed Sheikh has long been indicted in the United States and must be held accountable for his crimes," Acting Attorney General Monty Wilkinson said, as quoted by the Justice Department.

"He must not be permitted to evade justice for his charged role in Del Pearl's abduction and murder," he added.

Slamming the Pakist court's decision to acquit Omar Sheikh, State Secretary Antony Blinken said that Washington is ready to prosecute Sheikh in the United States for his horrific crimes against an American citizen.

"We expect the Pakist government to expeditiously review its legal options to ensure justice is served. We are also prepared to prosecute Sheikh in the United States for his horrific crimes against an American citizen," US State Department release quoted Blinken.

"Ahmad Omar Saeed Sheikh was indicted in the United States in 2002 for hostage-taking and conspiracy to commit hostage-taking, resulting in the murder of Pearl, the South Asia Bureau Chief for the Wall Street Journal, as well as the 1994 kidnapping of another United States citizen in India," the statement added.

Early today, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said the US is outraged with Omar Saeed Sheikh's acquittal. "The United States is outraged by the Pakist Supreme Court's decision to affirm the acquittals of those responsible for Wall Street Journal reporter Del Pearl's kidnapping and brutal murder, which shocked the world's conscience in 2002," Psaki told reporters.

She said that this decision to exonerate and release, Sheikh and the other suspects and enough is an affront to terrorism victims everywhere, including in Pakistan.

Pakistan's Supreme Court on Thursday ordered the release of the man convicted in 2002 of orchestrating the abduction and killing of Wall Street Journal reporter Del Pearl after effectively clearing him of wrongdoing in the case.

A three-judge panel upheld a lower-court ruling that overturned terrorism and murder convictions for Omar Sheikh, who has spent more than 18 years in prison for the crimes.

The judges also overturned a third conviction, for kidnapping. The court said it would explain its reasoning at a later date. The press Secretary responded to the Supreme court order.

( With inputs from ANI )