Pakistanis: We're Hot On Trail Of Thug Who Snatched Reporter

by Adam Miller
The New York Post
February 10, 2002


Pakistani police yesterday said the prime suspect in the case of kidnapped Wall Street Journal reporter Daniel Pearl may have fled to the country's most populous province - but insist they "are close" to capturing him and freeing the journalist.

Sindh province Police Chief Kamal Shah said British-born Muslim militant Ahmad Omar Saeed Sheikh may have left Karachi and "was reported to be in the Punjab," located along Pakistan's border with India. "We feel we are close," Shah said of apprehending Saeed and solving the case.

Pearl, a 38-year-old New Jersey native, was snatched Jan. 23 in Karachi while seeking an interview with a radical Islamic cleric believed to be tied to shoe-bomber Richard Reid.

In an attempt to flush Saeed out, cops have detained several members of his family, including his 90-year-old grandfather.

Saeed was released from prison in 1999 after serving five years for the kidnapping of British backpackers.

Intelligence sources believe Saeed sent $100,000 to lead Sept. 11 hijacker Mohamed Atta through a money system that bypasses banks and official financial institutions.

Pearl's captors have threatened to kill him if the United States doesn't release all Pakistanis detained in the Afghan war. With Post Wire Services


Copyright 2002 N.Y.P. Holdings, Inc.

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