The Supreme Court of Pakistan has ordered the release of an Islamic extremist man charged with murder and other charges for murdering an American reporter 19 years ago in Pakistan.

Although the US government requested the surrender of the defendant, the Pakistani government refused it, and it is expected that the US side will oppose it in the future.

In January 2002, a reporter from the leading American newspaper, The Wall Street Journal, was kidnapped and killed during an interview with a terrorist organization in Karachi, southern Pakistan.



After the incident, Islamic extremist Sheikh Omar was charged with murder and other crimes, and was sentenced to death in the first instance, but the second instance canceled this and the bereaved family appealed. It was.



According to local media, the Supreme Court of Pakistan dismissed the proceedings of the bereaved family and ordered the officials to release Omar on the 28th.



Details have not been revealed, but local media reports that "there was not enough evidence to be involved in the incident."

The bereaved family of reporter Pearl issued a statement through a lawyer that "the release of the defendant puts journalists and Pakistani people at risk."



Regarding Omar, the US government demanded that he be handed over, but the Pakistani government refused to hand it over because it should be judged by his own law, and it is expected that the US side will oppose it in the future.