(25 Feb 2002) VOICED BY LOUISE BATES
SHOTLIST
0000 Sheikh Omar taken to van
0018 Exterior police station
0021 Policeman profile
0023 APC leaves for court
0030 Two suspects escorted into court
0042 Sheikh Omar escorted into court
0058SOUNDBITE: (English) Raja Quereshi, Chief Prosecutor
0113 Stills of Daniel Pearl
0120 Sheikh Omar is escorted from van
0127VISION ENDS
STORYLINE
THREE ISLAMIC MILITANTS, SUSPECTED OF INVOLVEMENT IN THE KIDNAPPING AND MURDER OF US JOURNALIST DANIEL PEARL, WERE ORDERED JAILED FOR TWO MORE WEEKS BY A KARACHI COURT ON MONDAY.
VOICE-OVER
"SHEIKH OMAR" WAS TAKEN TO COURT IN KARACHI ON MONDAY... AMID HEAVY SECURITY...
IN AN EARLIER COURT APPEARANCE, HE'D CONFESSED TO KIDNAPPING US JOURNALIST DANIEL PEARL.
BUT OFFICIALS SAID HIS STATEMENT WASN'T UNDER OATH AND WASN'T ADMISSABLE.
ON MONDAY, SHEIKH OMAR TOLD A SPECIAL ANTI-TERRORISM COURT THAT POLICE HAD PRESSURED HIM TO SIGN A BLANK CONFESSION.
HE WAS QUOTED AS SAYING HE DIDN'T WISH TO DO SO.
TWO OTHER MEN.. SHEIKH ABIL AND SALMAN SAQIB.. ALSO APPEARED BEFORE THE COURT.
THEY'RE ACCUSED OF SENDING EMAILS ABOUT THE KIDNAPPING.
ALL THREE MILITANTS HAD BEEN EXPECTED TO FACE MURDER AND KIDNAPPING CHARGES.
BUT THE JUDGE DELAYED THE CHARGES, FOLLOWING A POLICE REQUEST FOR MORE TIME TO FIND PEARL'S BODY.
HE ORDERED THE THREE JAILED FOR TWO MORE WEEKS.. SO PROSECUTORS COULD DEVELOP THEIR CASE.
SOUNDBITE: (English) Raja Quereshi, Chief Prosecutor
"The dead body has yet to be recovered, pieces of evidence such as the crime weapon is to be recovered, other accused persons are required to be recovered which would establish the crime against the present accused persons and others in respect of this matter."
THE COURT HEARD THAT THE AUTHORITIES ARE STILL LOOKING FOR OTHER SUSPECTS INVOLVED IN DANIEL PEARL'S MURDER.
THE POLICE BELIEVE MOST OF THEM HAVE SPENT TIME IN AFGHANISTAN AS SUPPORTERS OF THE TALIBAN.
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