Pakistan is plummeting to all-new levels of low with each passing day as even its traditional allies like Saudi Arabia and UAE becoming arch-enemies under the tenure of Imran Khan. The latter’s love for Turkey saw Pakistan lose the support of the Arab world, however, with the Abrahamic Accord, even an embattled Turkey rejected Pakistan. In what appears like a triple whammy, the USA is dropping hints that it will not hesitate to sanction Pakistan in the eventuality of the murderers of American journalist Daniel Pearl walking free.
The US State Department expressed “deep concern” over the December 24th ruling of the Sindh High Court over the release of Daniel Pearl’s killers.
In a series of tweets, the State Department said, “We are deeply concerned by the reports of the December 24 ruling of Sindh High Court to release multiple terrorists responsible for the murder of Daniel Pearl. We have been assured that the accused have not been released at this time.”
Adding, “We understand that this case is ongoing and will be following closely. We continue to stand with the Pearl family through this extremely difficult process.”
The Department concluded by saying, “We continue to honour Daniel Pearl’s legacy as a courageous journalist.”
(1/3)We are deeply concerned by the reports of the December 24 ruling of Sindh High Court to release multiple terrorists responsible for the murder of Daniel Pearl. We have been assured that the accused have not been released at this time.
— State_SCA (@State_SCA) December 24, 2020
It seems like the possibility of Pearl’s murderers walking scot-free hasn’t gone down well in America with sanctions possibly on the table if the Pakistan government doesn’t ensure that the terrorists continue to languish in jail for the foreseeable future.
Earlier in April, Pakistan’s Sindh High Court had overturned the death sentence of the killer of Daniel Pearl and top al-Qaeda leader Ahmed Omar Saeed Sheikh. In 2002, Sheikh was convicted in the abduction and brutal murder of American journalist Daniel Pearl in Karachi. The USA had slammed the verdict while India had decided to take this matter to the FATF, thereby turning the heat on Pakistan.
The Sindh High Court had found Ahmed Omar Saeed Sheikh guilty of the lesser charge of kidnapping and commuted his death sentence to seven years in prison. The US had termed the verdict as an “affront” to victims of terrorism everywhere.
Alice Wells, Acting Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia had tweeted, “The overturning of the convictions for Daniel Pearl’s murder is an affront to victims of terrorism everywhere.”
Anurima Bhargava, the Commissioner of the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom lambasted the verdict as it highlighted the misplaced priorities of the Pakistani legal system and the total lack of accountability over the murder of Daniel Pearl.
“This court decision is outrageous and will hopefully be reversed by a higher court,” said Congressman Brad Sherman while speaking to Pakistan’s Ambassador to the U.S.
Sheikh has been in the prison since the past 18 years as he was arrested for the kidnapping and killing of the Wall Street Journal’s correspondent, Daniel Pearl in Karachi in 2002. Pearl was later beheaded as he was investigating a story on the alleged links between the ISI and al-Qaeda.
Sheikh has had a notorious history. From 1994-1999 he spent his time in Indian prisons as he was arrested for kidnapping foreigners. He was forced to let go off along with Masood Azhar by the Indian authorities during the 1999 Kandahar hijack. Sheikh is also suspected to have played a role in the 9/11 attacks for which he hasn’t been tried yet in Pakistan.
If the Pakistan government doesn’t file a strong appeal against any verdict which will see the terrorists walk scot-free, it will only increase the threat of American sanctions on Pakistan, as the US famously places a very high price on its citizens. This time around, Pakistan will be all alone as neither the Arab world nor Turkey would be there to do its bidding.