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Pakistan Arrests Militant Wanted in Daniel Pearl Killing Pakistan Arrests Militant Wanted in Daniel Pearl Killing
(about 1 hour later)
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan — Pakistani officials have arrested a senior militant accused of involvement in the 2002 murder of the American journalist Daniel Pearl.ISLAMABAD, Pakistan — Pakistani officials have arrested a senior militant accused of involvement in the 2002 murder of the American journalist Daniel Pearl.
The militant, Qari Abdul Hayee, a leader of the Islamist militant group Lashkar-e-Jhangvi, was arrested by the paramilitary Rangers force on Sunday in Karachi, the city where Mr. Pearl was held hostage and killed.The militant, Qari Abdul Hayee, a leader of the Islamist militant group Lashkar-e-Jhangvi, was arrested by the paramilitary Rangers force on Sunday in Karachi, the city where Mr. Pearl was held hostage and killed.
“We were after him for the past three weeks. We had information he was in Karachi,” said a senior Rangers official, speaking by phone on the condition of anonymity.“We were after him for the past three weeks. We had information he was in Karachi,” said a senior Rangers official, speaking by phone on the condition of anonymity.
Mr. Hayee was arrested on University Road, which runs through several residential neighborhoods and educational institutes. But it was not clear where he was being held.Mr. Hayee was arrested on University Road, which runs through several residential neighborhoods and educational institutes. But it was not clear where he was being held.
The Rangers official that the militant had been handed over to the city police’s Crime Investigation Department on Sunday evening. But police sources in Karachi, also speaking on the condition of anonymity, denied that Mr. Hayee was in their custody.The Rangers official that the militant had been handed over to the city police’s Crime Investigation Department on Sunday evening. But police sources in Karachi, also speaking on the condition of anonymity, denied that Mr. Hayee was in their custody.
It is not the first time Mr. Hayee has been reported arrested since the death of Mr. Pearl, 38, a reporter for The Wall Street Journal. The militant was arrested in 2003 in Multan, a city in the southern part of Punjab Province, in connection with the death of six Shiites. He was later acquitted and continued to live freely in Punjab Province, where Lashkar-e-Jhangvi has its strongest roots.It is not the first time Mr. Hayee has been reported arrested since the death of Mr. Pearl, 38, a reporter for The Wall Street Journal. The militant was arrested in 2003 in Multan, a city in the southern part of Punjab Province, in connection with the death of six Shiites. He was later acquitted and continued to live freely in Punjab Province, where Lashkar-e-Jhangvi has its strongest roots.
Pakistani officials have said the Mr. Hayee and other figures in Lashkar-e-Jhangvi were at least partly involved in Mr. Pearl’s detention, though not his death. Pakistani officials have said the Mr. Hayee and other figures in Lashkar-e-Jhangvi were at least partly involved in Mr. Pearl’s abduction, though not his death. Mr. Hayee’s suspected role has been described as acting as a “facilitator” who had close ties with other men involved in the kidnapping. At the time of his arrest in 2003 in a case related to Shiite killings, which dated back to the 90s, Mr. Hayee was also investigated for his role in Pearl’s murder. It remained unclear what led to his subsequent acquittal.
Lashkar is Pakistan’s most notorious sectarian militant outfit, and has returned to prominence this year after it claimed responsibility for two devastating bombings in the western city of Quetta that killed about 200 Shiites, mostly from the ethnic Hazara minority. Mr. Hayee, who also goes by the name of Asadullah, was identified as a weapons and explosives expert for Lashkar-e-Jhangvi Lashkar is Pakistan’s most notorious sectarian militant outfit, and has returned to prominence this year after it claimed responsibility for two devastating bombings in the western city of Quetta that killed about 200 Shiites, mostly from the ethnic Hazara minority.
Mr. Hayee appears to have been arrested as part of a crackdown by the security forces on Lashkar after widespread criticism following the two Quetta bombings and a third attack in Karachi this month, also thought to be the work of Lashkar militants.Mr. Hayee appears to have been arrested as part of a crackdown by the security forces on Lashkar after widespread criticism following the two Quetta bombings and a third attack in Karachi this month, also thought to be the work of Lashkar militants.
Pakistani officials declined to share details of Mr. Hayee’s arrest on Sunday. A private security consultant in Karachi speculated that Mr. Hayee may have been visiting madrasas in the Safari Park neighborhood, which is close to University Road.Pakistani officials declined to share details of Mr. Hayee’s arrest on Sunday. A private security consultant in Karachi speculated that Mr. Hayee may have been visiting madrasas in the Safari Park neighborhood, which is close to University Road.
Mr. Pearl was abducted in January 2002 in Karachi and beheaded the next month. His killing sent shock waves throughout the world and shed a light on the growing nexus of Al Qaeda and Pakistani militant groups.Mr. Pearl was abducted in January 2002 in Karachi and beheaded the next month. His killing sent shock waves throughout the world and shed a light on the growing nexus of Al Qaeda and Pakistani militant groups.
Mr. Hayee is one of several militant figures still being sought in Mr. Pearl’s death. The two central figures in that crime are in prison: Khalid Shaikh Mohammed, the Qaeda operational mastermind who designed the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks and who wielded the knife against Mr. Pearl; and Ahmed Omar Sheikh, a British-born Islamic militant who lured Mr. Pearl to an interview and then kidnapped him.Mr. Hayee is one of several militant figures still being sought in Mr. Pearl’s death. The two central figures in that crime are in prison: Khalid Shaikh Mohammed, the Qaeda operational mastermind who designed the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks and who wielded the knife against Mr. Pearl; and Ahmed Omar Sheikh, a British-born Islamic militant who lured Mr. Pearl to an interview and then kidnapped him.
The case was one of the first known instances of major collaboration between Al Qaeda and established militant groups in Pakistan. The increasing melding and cooperation among such groups in Pakistan’s tribal belt has helped define both the struggle against militants within Pakistan, the war next door in Afghanistan, and the global effort against terrorism.The case was one of the first known instances of major collaboration between Al Qaeda and established militant groups in Pakistan. The increasing melding and cooperation among such groups in Pakistan’s tribal belt has helped define both the struggle against militants within Pakistan, the war next door in Afghanistan, and the global effort against terrorism.
Mr. Sheikh was convicted and sentenced to death in the case in July 2002. Seven of his co-accused were sentenced in absentia, and two were later killed in shootouts with the police. Mr. Sheikh has appealed his sentence.Mr. Sheikh was convicted and sentenced to death in the case in July 2002. Seven of his co-accused were sentenced in absentia, and two were later killed in shootouts with the police. Mr. Sheikh has appealed his sentence.
Although still in prison, Mr. Sheikh continues to make headlines and cause trouble.Although still in prison, Mr. Sheikh continues to make headlines and cause trouble.
In 2008, as tensions mounted between Pakistan and India over an attack on the Indian city of Mumbai by another militant group, Lashkar-e-Taiba, Mr. Sheikh managed to make a hoax call to President Asif Ali Zardari and the army chief, Gen. Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, in which he pretended to be the Indian foreign minister and threatened Pakistan of an Indian attack.In 2008, as tensions mounted between Pakistan and India over an attack on the Indian city of Mumbai by another militant group, Lashkar-e-Taiba, Mr. Sheikh managed to make a hoax call to President Asif Ali Zardari and the army chief, Gen. Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, in which he pretended to be the Indian foreign minister and threatened Pakistan of an Indian attack.