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CNN Live Today
Pakistani Judge Convicts Militants of Pearl Death
Aired July 15, 2002 - 10:10 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.
CAROL LIN, CNN ANCHOR: In Pakistan, authorities are on guard, and much of the country is on edge. A judge there has convicted four Islamic militants of kidnapping and killing American journalist Daniel Pearl. The ringleader of the group has been sentenced to death, but responded with a threat of his own.
CNNs Tom Mintier joins us via videophone from Islamabad -- Tom.
TOM MINTIER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Carol.
That threat was passed along to his attorney and then passed along to reporters outside the courtroom that we will basically see who dies first, and it was a threat thats probably being taken very seriously here.
Now this case is probably going on appeal in the next seven days. The defense has seven days to file their case with the high court here in Pakistan, and then because its a death penalty case, it probably will go to the Pakistani Supreme Court, so we may be a while before theres a final decision and the execution carried out.
Theres also the issue of extradition. The United States would like to have Sheikh Omar not in Pakistan but in a U.S. court. He has been indicted in the United States, not only on the Daniel Pearl case, but also kidnapping of American tourists in Kashmir. So, there is the possibility that he might face trial in the United States so theres going to be a lot of discussions going on between the Pakistani government and the U.S. government regarding whats going to happen to Sheikh Omar.
But, right now, he joins 79 other inmates on death row. There are many cases ahead of his, but this one is probably going to be moved through the courts very rapidly here in Pakistan. And, as you said at the beginning, people are a bit on edge with this threat coming out. Security has been knocked up another level at embassies and different locations around Pakistan, especially here in Islamabad and Karachi, where helicopters were seen after the verdict, flying overhead in the city.
So, it is a bit on edge here. People are wondering if this was an empty threat or indeed a threat that is going to be carried out by other groups that are not in prison -- Carol.
LIN: Tom, what is his ability to actually cause trouble? How many supporters does he have out there?
MINTIER: Well, its really difficult to say how many people are in his organization, how many people are still active. The Pakistani government has cracked down very hard on the militant groups since basically the president came out in early January and outlawed several groups and rounded up nearly 2,000 people in January and is still holding some of them.
So, just how much this threat carries weight remains to be seen, but nobody is downplaying it, that theres not the possibility that some target might be attacked. There was an attack on German tourists, European tourists, last weekend. Someone threw a hand grenade at their bus, injured more than 12 people. So, it doesnt take but one person apparently to carry out an attack that has a very, very big impact on the situation. So, everyone is extremely on guard here right now for the potential of what might happen.
LIN: All right, thank you very much, Tom Mintier, live from Islamabad.
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