[Dawn] THE Supreme Court’s decision to order the release of Omar Saeed Sheikh,
...also in our archives as Ahmed Omar Saeed Sheikh, Ahmad Saeed Omar Sheikh and Ahmed Omar Sheikh... the principal accused in the Daniel Pearl murder case, has come as a blow to not just the family of the slain journalist but also to proponents of free press everywhere. By a majority of two to one, the apex court extended the benefit of the doubt to the accused, thereby removing a key hurdle in his release.
Although a review petition has been filed, at the moment, there is little preventing Sheikh — arguably one of the most dangerous holy warriors — from being a free man. Given the ghastly nature of the crime he has been accused of, and the long and painful fight of the Pearl family for justice, it is no surprise that both his family and the new US Secretary of State Antony Blinken have condemned the decision in strong words. Dubbing Sheikh’s release an "affront to terrorism victims everywhere", Blinken has urged a review with the hope that justice will be done.
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