In April, the high court had heard the appeals of Sheikh, Fahad Naseem, Sheikh Adil and Salman Saqib 18 years after they were sentenced and acquitted Sheikh, Saqib and Naseem.

Sindh High court orders immediate release of terrorist Omar Saeed Sheikh

A Pakistan court on Thursday commuted the death sentence of the prime accused in the 2002 kidnapping and murder of the Wall Street Journal reporter Daniel Pearl. Ahmed Omer Saeed Sheikh will now serve seven years in prison, as per the Sindh High Court's verdict.

The other three convicts -&nbsp;Fahad Naseem, Salman Saqib and Sheikh Adil - who were earlier handed life sentences were&nbsp;acquitted in the case.

Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/two-terrorists-involved-in-us-journalist-danial-pearls-killing-held-in-pakistan-211905">Two terrorists involved in US journalist Danial Pearl's killing held in Pakistan</a>

"The court has commuted Omar's death sentence to a seven-year sentence," news agency Reuters quoted Khawaja Naveed, the defence lawyer as saying.

"The murder charges were not proven, so he has given seven years for the kidnapping," he added.

"Omar has already served 18 years, so his release orders will be issued sometime today. He will be out in a few days," Naveed also said.

Daniel Pearl,&nbsp; South Asia Bureau Chief for the US-based Wall Street Journal,&nbsp;was investigating Islamist militants in Karachi after September&nbsp;11, 2001&nbsp;attacks on the United States when he was kidnapped in January 2002. He was later beheaded by terrorists in Pakistan.

At least four people were convicted in connection with Pearl's murder, including British-born Ahmed Omar Saeed Sheikh, who was sentenced to death in 2002 for masterminding the murder. He has been in jail for 18 years awaiting the outcome of an appeal.

Sheikh, who was born in Britain and studied at the London School of Economics, was arrested in India in the 1990s for his involvement in the kidnapping of western tourists in 1994.

He was one of three men released from an Indian prison after militants hijacked an Indian airliner in late 1999 and flew it to Afghanistan, where the then-ruling Taliban regime helped negotiate an exchange with the Indian government officials.

(With inputs from agencies)

A Pakistan court on Thursday commuted the death sentence of the prime accused in the 2002 kidnapping and murder of the Wall Street Journal reporter Daniel Pearl.

A Pakistan court on Thursday commuted the death sentence of the prime accused in the 2002 kidnapping and murder of the Wall Street Journal reporter Daniel Pearl. Ahmed Omer Saeed Sheikh will now serve seven years in prison, as per the Sindh High Court's verdict. The other three convicts - Fahad Naseem, Salman Saqib and Sheikh Adil - who were earlier handed life sentences were acquitted in the case. Also read: Two terrorists involved in US journalist Danial Pearl's killing held in Pakistan "The court has commuted Omar's death sentence to a seven-year sentence," news agency Reuters quoted Khawaja Naveed, the defence lawyer as saying. "The murder charges were not proven, so he has given seven years for the kidnapping," he added. "Omar has already served 18 years, so his release orders will be issued sometime today. He will be out in a few days," Naveed also said. Daniel Pearl, South Asia Bureau Chief for the US-based Wall Street Journal, was investigating Islamist militants in Karachi after September 11, 2001 attacks on the United States when he was kidnapped in January 2002. He was later beheaded by terrorists in Pakistan. At least four people were convicted in connection with Pearl's murder, including British-born Ahmed Omar Saeed Sheikh, who was sentenced to death in 2002 for masterminding the murder. He has been in jail for 18 years awaiting the outcome of an appeal. Sheikh, who was born in Britain and studied at the London School of Economics, was arrested in India in the 1990s for his involvement in the kidnapping of western tourists in 1994. He was one of three men released from an Indian prison after militants hijacked an Indian airliner in late 1999 and flew it to Afghanistan, where the then-ruling Taliban regime helped negotiate an exchange with the Indian government officials. (With inputs from agencies)

Pakistan court commutes death sentence of prime accused in Daniel Pearl murder case

Men can marry underage girls as per a judgement by the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/sindh-high-court-chief-justices-son-kidnapped-879">Sindh High Court </a>on Monday.

The High Court said that underage girls can be married as long as they have had their first menstrual cycle.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions-blogs/whats-pakistans-definition-of-child-abuse-279283">Opinion: What's Pakistan's definition of child abuse?</a> 
 
This ruling is in accordance with <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/sharia-law-in-indonesia-now-female-floggers-to-whip-women-for-premarital-sex-cuddling-in-public-277203">Sharia law</a>.

Watch: Pak Hindu girl 'abducted' from wedding, Forcibly converted to Islam

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/pak-hindu-girl-abducted-from-wedding-forcibly-converted-to-islam-277125/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

The Court in Karachi passed down the ruling in a hearing about the alleged abduction, forced conversion and marriage of Huma Younus, a Catholic girl taken from her home on 10th October 2019.

Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/pakistan-24-year-old-woman-allegedly-abducted-forcibly-converted-to-islam-277085">Pakistan: 24-year-old woman allegedly abducted, forcibly converted to Islam</a>

Her parents believe her marriage is invalid in line with the Sindh Child Marriage Restraint Act, which forbids marriage under the age of 18.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/sharia-should-be-the-only-law-say-67-of-pakistanis-141886">Sharia should be the only law, say 67% of Pakistanis</a>

Huma's parents produced evidence, including a baptismal certificate and testimony from her school, purporting to show she is 14 years old, born on 22nd May 2005.

The judges, Muhammad Iqbal Kalhoro and Irshad Ali Shah ruled that, as per Shari'a law, even if Huma was a minor, the marriage between her and her alleged abductor, Abdul Jabbar, would be valid as she had already had her first menstrual cycle.

Men can marry underage girls as per a judgement by the Sindh High Court on Monday. The High Court said that underage girls can be married as long as they have had their first menstrual cycle.

Men can marry underage girls as per a judgement by the Sindh High Court on Monday. The High Court said that underage girls can be married as long as they have had their first menstrual cycle. Opinion: What's Pakistan's definition of child abuse? This ruling is in accordance with Sharia law. Watch: Pak Hindu girl 'abducted' from wedding, Forcibly converted to Islam The Court in Karachi passed down the ruling in a hearing about the alleged abduction, forced conversion and marriage of Huma Younus, a Catholic girl taken from her home on 10th October 2019. Also read: Pakistan: 24-year-old woman allegedly abducted, forcibly converted to Islam Her parents believe her marriage is invalid in line with the Sindh Child Marriage Restraint Act, which forbids marriage under the age of 18. Also read: Sharia should be the only law, say 67% of Pakistanis Huma's parents produced evidence, including a baptismal certificate and testimony from her school, purporting to show she is 14 years old, born on 22nd May 2005. The judges, Muhammad Iqbal Kalhoro and Irshad Ali Shah ruled that, as per Shari'a law, even if Huma was a minor, the marriage between her and her alleged abductor, Abdul Jabbar, would be valid as she had already had her first menstrual cycle.

Men can marry underage girls if they have had their first menstrual cycle: Pakistan court

The Special Court, which pronounced death sentence to <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/pervez-musharraf-handed-death-sentence-in-high-treason-case-268641">Pervez Musharraf </a>on Tuesday, has written in its 167-page detailed verdict that the body of the former military dictator would be dragged to and hanged at D-Chowk in Islamabad if he died before the execution of his death sentence.

For the first time in Pakistan's recent history, a special court, earlier this week, handed a death sentence to a former military general in a high treason court.

As per the detailed verdict, cited by Pakistan Today, "The then Corps Commanders Committee in addition to all other uniformed officers who were guarding him each and every time, with boots on, are equally and fully involved in the act and deeds of the accused person."

"As a necessary corollary to what has been observed, we find the accused guilty as per charge. The convict is hanged by his neck till he dies on each count as per charge," the verdict said.

"We direct the law enforcement agencies to strive their level best to apprehend the fugitive/convict and to ensure that the punishment is inflicted as per law and if found dead, his corpse is dragged to the D-Chowk, Islamabad, Pakistan and be hanged for 03 days," it added.

In the brief ruling announced on Tuesday, the three-member bench headed by <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/pakistan-in-a-setback-to-christian-community-peshawar-high-court-nationalises-edwardes-college-257628">Peshawar High Court</a> (PHC) Chief Justice Waqar Ahmad Seth and comprised Justice Nazar Akbar of the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/sindh-high-court-chief-justices-son-kidnapped-879">Sindh High Court</a> (SHC) and Justice Shahid Karim of the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/lahore-high-court-accepts-hafiz-saaeds-application-challenging-his-arrest-in-terror-financing-case-254314">Lahore High Court</a> (LHC) had found Musharraf guilty under Article 6 of the Constitution.

Article 6 of the Constitution states: "Any person who abrogates or subverts or suspends or hold in abeyance, or attempts or conspires to abrogate or subvert or suspend or hold in abeyance the Constitution by use of force or show force or by any other unconstitutional means shall be guilty of high treason."

The special court, earlier this month, had said that it would announce the verdict in the case on December 17. The court on November 19 concluded the trial proceedings in the case against Musharraf for declaring a state emergency on November 3, 2007.

The court was scheduled to announce the verdict on November 28 on the basis of the available record but the Islamabad High Court halted the verdict announcement after

Prime Minister Imran Khan-led government filed a petition against the announcement. 
Since 2016, Musharraf has been living in a self-imposed exile in Dubai for "seeking medical treatment" and has not returned to the country since. He is wanted by authorities in connection to the case.

The high treason trial of the former leader has been pending since December 2013 when he was booked in the case.

He was indicted on March 31, 2014, and the prosecution had tabled the entire evidence before the special court in September the same year.

However, due to litigation at appellate forums, Musharraf's trial lingered on and he left Pakistan in March 2016 "to seek medical treatment."

The<a href="https://www.wionews.com/pakistan/ex-pakistan-president-zardari-secures-interim-bail-in-6-corruption-cases-219102"> former Pakistan President</a> was then declared an absconder as he failed to appear in court despite repeated summons and the court issued a directive to the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) to arrest him.

The Special Court, which pronounced death sentence to Pervez Musharraf on Tuesday, has written in its 167-page detailed verdict that the body of the former military dictator would be dragged to and hanged at D-Chowk in Islamabad if he died before the execution of his death sentence.

The Special Court, which pronounced death sentence to Pervez Musharraf on Tuesday, has written in its 167-page detailed verdict that the body of the former military dictator would be dragged to and hanged at D-Chowk in Islamabad if he died before the execution of his death sentence. For the first time in Pakistan's recent history, a special court, earlier this week, handed a death sentence to a former military general in a high treason court. As per the detailed verdict, cited by Pakistan Today, "The then Corps Commanders Committee in addition to all other uniformed officers who were guarding him each and every time, with boots on, are equally and fully involved in the act and deeds of the accused person." "As a necessary corollary to what has been observed, we find the accused guilty as per charge. The convict is hanged by his neck till he dies on each count as per charge," the verdict said. "We direct the law enforcement agencies to strive their level best to apprehend the fugitive/convict and to ensure that the punishment is inflicted as per law and if found dead, his corpse is dragged to the D-Chowk, Islamabad, Pakistan and be hanged for 03 days," it added. In the brief ruling announced on Tuesday, the three-member bench headed by Peshawar High Court (PHC) Chief Justice Waqar Ahmad Seth and comprised Justice Nazar Akbar of the Sindh High Court (SHC) and Justice Shahid Karim of the Lahore High Court (LHC) had found Musharraf guilty under Article 6 of the Constitution. Article 6 of the Constitution states: "Any person who abrogates or subverts or suspends or hold in abeyance, or attempts or conspires to abrogate or subvert or suspend or hold in abeyance the Constitution by use of force or show force or by any other unconstitutional means shall be guilty of high treason." The special court, earlier this month, had said that it would announce the verdict in the case on December 17. The court on November 19 concluded the trial proceedings in the case against Musharraf for declaring a state emergency on November 3, 2007. The court was scheduled to announce the verdict on November 28 on the basis of the available record but the Islamabad High Court halted the verdict announcement after Prime Minister Imran Khan-led government filed a petition against the announcement. Since 2016, Musharraf has been living in a self-imposed exile in Dubai for "seeking medical treatment" and has not returned to the country since. He is wanted by authorities in connection to the case. The high treason trial of the former leader has been pending since December 2013 when he was booked in the case. He was indicted on March 31, 2014, and the prosecution had tabled the entire evidence before the special court in September the same year. However, due to litigation at appellate forums, Musharraf's trial lingered on and he left Pakistan in March 2016 "to seek medical treatment." The former Pakistan President was then declared an absconder as he failed to appear in court despite repeated summons and the court issued a directive to the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) to arrest him.

Musharraf's body to be hanged at Islamabad's D-Chowk for 3 days if dies before execution: Verdict

Masked men kidnapped the son of a senior Pakistani judge in the southern port city of Karachi, police said on Tuesday, suspecting the victim could be used as a bargaining chip in negotiations to free imprisoned Islamist militants. 
 
Awais Ali Shah, the son of Sindh High Court Chief Justice Sajjad Ali Shah, was abducted outside a supermarket in the city on Monday, according to police. Eyewitnesses told officers that Shah, a lawyer, had put up a fight before being quickly overpowered and thrown into a white getaway car. 
 
&quot;So far it is kidnapping, and my professional assessment is that it is not for ransom,&quot; Allah Dino Khawaja, the police chief in Sindh province told Reuters. 
 
Security officials, speaking on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to speak to the media, said they suspected the kidnappers would offer to free Shah in return for the release of captured militants. 
 
Kidnapping by criminal gangs and militants is common in Pakistan. Police did not say why they suspected Shah had been abducted by militants. 
 
Karachi, a teeming metropolis of more than 20 million people, has long been plagued by political, ethnic and religious violence, although crime has dropped sharply since the launch of a paramilitary operation in September 2013. 
 
Pakistan has been fighting an Islamist insurgency led by the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, an umbrella group of militant organisations seeking the overthrow of the government, since 2007. 
 
Violence countrywide has dropped significantly since 2014, when the military launched an operation in the tribal areas along the border with Afghanistan, but attacks against civilians and security forces continue. 
 
Earlier this year, Shahbaz Taseer, the son of slain Punjab governor Salmaan Taseer, was rescued four years after he was kidnapped by militants in the eastern city of Lahore. 
 
Last month, US and Afghan forces freed Ali Haider Gilani, the son of former Pakistani prime minister Yusuf Raza Gilani, three years after gunmen abducted him. 
 
(Reuters)

Police suspect he may be used as a bargaining chip in negotiations to free imprisoned Islamist militants

Masked men kidnapped the son of a senior Pakistani judge in the southern port city of Karachi, police said on Tuesday, suspecting the victim could be used as a bargaining chip in negotiations to free imprisoned Islamist militants. Awais Ali Shah, the son of Sindh High Court Chief Justice Sajjad Ali Shah, was abducted outside a supermarket in the city on Monday, according to police. Eyewitnesses told officers that Shah, a lawyer, had put up a fight before being quickly overpowered and thrown into a white getaway car. "So far it is kidnapping, and my professional assessment is that it is not for ransom," Allah Dino Khawaja, the police chief in Sindh province told Reuters. Security officials, speaking on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to speak to the media, said they suspected the kidnappers would offer to free Shah in return for the release of captured militants. Kidnapping by criminal gangs and militants is common in Pakistan. Police did not say why they suspected Shah had been abducted by militants. Karachi, a teeming metropolis of more than 20 million people, has long been plagued by political, ethnic and religious violence, although crime has dropped sharply since the launch of a paramilitary operation in September 2013. Pakistan has been fighting an Islamist insurgency led by the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, an umbrella group of militant organisations seeking the overthrow of the government, since 2007. Violence countrywide has dropped significantly since 2014, when the military launched an operation in the tribal areas along the border with Afghanistan, but attacks against civilians and security forces continue. Earlier this year, Shahbaz Taseer, the son of slain Punjab governor Salmaan Taseer, was rescued four years after he was kidnapped by militants in the eastern city of Lahore. Last month, US and Afghan forces freed Ali Haider Gilani, the son of former Pakistani prime minister Yusuf Raza Gilani, three years after gunmen abducted him. (Reuters)

Sindh high court Chief Justice's son kidnapped

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Sindh High court orders immediate release of terrorist Omar Saeed Sheikh

Pakistan court commutes death sentence of prime accused in Daniel Pearl murder case

Men can marry underage girls if they have had their first menstrual cycle: Pakistan court

Musharraf's body to be hanged at Islamabad's D-Chowk for 3 days if dies before execution: Verdict

Sindh high court Chief Justice's son kidnapped