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CNN Live Saturday

Still No Sign of Pearl

Aired February 09, 2002 - 22:12   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.
CATHERINE CALLAWAY, CNN ANCHOR: And now for the latest on the Pearl story. It's been more than two weeks since Pearl was grabbed off the streets of Pakistan. Still no sign of the kidnapped "Wall Street Journal" reporter. Investigators, however, believe now that Pearl was lured into a trap that was set over a long period of time.

And CNN's Ben Wedeman has the latest.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BEN WEDEMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): A hostage's enigmatic smile, one clue investigators say that "Wall Street Journal" reporter, Daniel Pearl, knows his kidnappers.

CNN has obtained copies of e-mails sent to Pearl from the man described by sources close to the investigation as the ringleader of the kidnappers. The alleged ringleader, Sheikh Omar Saeed, a British- born Pakistani militant with ties to Osama bin Laden's al Qaeda network.

In his e-mail correspondence with Pearl, Saeed goes by name Chaudrey Bashir Ahmad Shabbir, or simply Bashir. "I am sorry to not have replied to you earlier," reads one e-mail from Bashir to Pearl. "I was preoccupied with looking after my wife, who has been ill. Please pray for her health."

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (UNINTELLIGIBLE) e-mail they became on casual terms, discussing family illnesses and all that; and slowly, slowly baiting him to an appointment as if they were doing him a favor.

WEDEMAN: It was this familiarity, and the instinctive journalist's drive to dig deeper into the darker side of this crowded, bustling city of 12 million, that lured Pearl into the trap.

MARIANE PEARL, DANIEL PEARL'S WIFE: Then he went to see these people without, you know, like taking care of his own security and having people -- whatever you know. He trusted. It's because he's pure in his attitude.

WEDEMAN: Pearl was investigating links between the so-called shoe bomber, Richard Reid, and Islamic militants in Pakistan.

(on camera): On the evening of January 23, Daniel Pearl arranged to meet a contact outside this restaurant in southern Karachi. Shortly after that, he disappeared.

(voice-over): Since then, Pakistani police say they have made significant progress in unraveling the mystery of Pearl's abduction, raiding houses in Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad and Rawalpindi, questioning dozens of people around the country.

While the Pakistani press has gone into overdrive with ever wilder stories, like this one Saturday, reporting that Pearl has been released and is on his way to London. "Phenomenally ludicrous" is how a "Wall Street Journal" editor described the report.

Pakistani police say they believe Pearl is still somewhere in this huge city, but finding him is proving far more difficult than sifting through the mystery and misinformation surrounding his abduction.

Ben Wedeman, CNN, Karachi.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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