Omar Sheikh to be moved to rest house soon: Sindh

Tells SHC it is complying with SC’s Tuesday order in letter and spirit

KARACHI:

The Sindh government has told the Sindh High Court (SHC) that it is making preparations to shift Ahmed Omar Saeed Sheikh – a man earlier convicted and sentenced to death for kidnapping and murdering US journalist Daniel Pearl – to a rest house in accordance with the Supreme Court’s order.

During hearing of contempt of court petitions filed against the Sindh government for not complying with the SHC’s December 24 order to release the Pearl case accused, Sindh’s assistant advocate general told the SHC that Sheikh would be moved to the rest house in a couple of days.

“The government is complying with the Supreme Court order in letter and spirit,” he said.

A three-judge bench of the apex court on Tuesday ordered the Sindh government to immediately shift Sheikh from his death cell to regular prison cell. The court gave authorities two days to prepare a well-protected rest house.

The SC had also ordered authorities to ensure security of the rest house. It noted that Sheikh – who has been languishing in jail for over 18 year – should not be provided with mobile and internet facilities but should be allowed to spend time with his family from 8am to 5pm each day.

Sindh home secretary and other officials also appeared before the SHC and said it was the decision of the provincial government not to end the detention of the Pearl case accused despite the SHC December 24 order and that he, though nominated in the petitions, was not responsible for it.

He also requested the court to grant him exception from appearing in the court. The court accepted his request and adjourned the case hearing till February 16.