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CNN Live Today

Pakistani Authorities Believe Body is Pearl's

Aired May 17, 2002 - 12:15   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Further east there, authorities in Pakistan say they are fairly sure that DNA testing today that will show human remains unearthed near Karachi are those of "Wall Street Journal" Reporter Daniel Pearl. The remains found yesterday, after the arrest of three more suspects in that case.

Ash-har Quraishi, our Islamabad Bureau Chief, joins us now live by way of video phone there in Pakistan -- Ash-har, good evening.

ASH-HAR QURAISHI, CNN ISLAMABAD BUREAU CHIEF: Good evening, Bill.

Well, it's been a busy day for for investigators in Karachi. A team of forensic medical experts in Karachi went to look at the body. They actually took some samples, hair samples, also blood samples. They're expecting to conduct DNA tests here in Pakistan, although authorities say that if they have trouble with these DNA tests, they will ask for outside help.

Also, we've learned this evening that the U.S. consulate has had two observers involved in the investigation since that body was found yesterday evening just to keep track of what is actually going on there. So interesting news coming out just a little less than an hour ago. The inspector general of Sindh province in Karachi addressing journalists, actually saying that three men were not arrested. Saying it was a tip given to them by a source, but we've still got conflicting reports.

We've got our sources inside the police, as well as inside the government, tell us that three men were actually arrested. And they pointed to this location where the body was found. There's still some confusion as to what exactly is going on and how this information came around. But right now what we know is that a body was found and officials inside the police, as well as inside the government, believe that this is in fact the body of "Wall Street Journal" Reporter Daniel Pearl. Although they are waiting for full confirmation, 100 percent, they say after those DNA tests have been concluded -- Bill.

HEMMER: Ash-har, we are awaiting Ari Fleischer. I may have to interrupt you on the following answer, but I'll pose my question on two fronts. There has been a body located weeks ago that thought -- investigators thought might have been that of Daniel Pearl. It turned out to be a no-go on that one. I'm wondering how that might affect the current case right now. And if three suspects were indeed picked up on Thursday, how might that change the current trial underway in Pakistan?

QURAISHI: Well, in regard to your first question, you're right. There was a body found in Karachi sometime ago shortly after the kidnapping. Police did think that that was the body of Daniel Pearl, and media -- various media organizations reported that it was. It turned out that it wasn't. So that's one reason that they're being very careful.

They're not giving it a full confirmation that this is Daniel Pearl's body, because they're waiting for those DNA tests so that they can be sure. Now as far as the court trial is concerned, there were 11 people charged in the kidnapping and murder of Daniel Pearl. And of those four in custody, including the suspected mastermind, Ahmed Omar Saeed Sheik -- and now it's also widely understood that these three may have been arrested, depending on who you believe. Maybe three of those that were outstanding right now, that they were looking for to take into custody.

So how this is going to affect the trial, we're still waiting to see. It still is scheduled to continue tomorrow morning in the Hyderabad Central Jail. Prosecutors saying right now, though, that they won't comment on what's been going on in Karachi until those DNA tests are concluded.

HEMMER: Thank you, Ash-har. Ash-har Quraishi, our bureau chief in Islamabad, following the very latest on the Daniel Pearl case.

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