Lawyer in Daniel Pearl murder case refuses to continue

Raja Qureshi said his security protocol being taken away prompted his decision.

Former Sindh advocate general, Raja Qureshi has refused to continue to serve as lawyer for the state in the Daniel Pearl murder case.

Qureshi said he had taken the stance to discontinue as state lawyer in the murder case of the Wall Street Journal correspondent since his security had been taken away. He added that the move to take back his security protocol had to be a plot against him.

Qureshi, who had revealed that he still frequently receives death threats,  said he cannot continue to serve as Special Public Prosecutor under these circumstances.

He said the primary accused, Umer Sheikh faces the death penalty while two others accused are facing life in prison in the Daniel Pearl murder case. He said the accused have filed an appeal in the Sindh High Court against the penalties levelled against them.