M A I N   N E W S

Pearl kidnapper in Lahore: Pak police

Karachi, February 11
The Pakistani police today said it believed that chief kidnapping suspect Sheikh Omar was hiding in the eastern city of Lahore amid growing concern for the fate of his hostage, US journalist Daniel Pearl.

Senior police sources involved in the massive manhunt revealed they had spoken with Omar, the British-born Islamic extremist accused of kidnapping Pearl and threatening to kill him almost three weeks ago.

They said they had spoken with Omar by phone on February 2 and believed he was in Lahore at the time.

“We believe he (Omar) is still in Lahore and it will be very difficult for him to slip away from the city because of the very tight security measures that are enforced. At all exit points,” a police officer said.

“His family and son are with him but we are not sure about Daniel Pearl being with him in Lahore. Omar is a sharp man who is highly trained and motivated.”

But the sources admitted they were “struggling” to find new leads on Omar’s whereabouts, despite another raid on a home last night in Rawalpindi, 260 km northwest of Lahore.

A relative of one of two men who owned a mobile phone recently used by Omar was detained in the raid, the police said.

The police has said they believe Wall Street Journal correspondent Pearl, 38, was being held in the southern city of Karachi, where he disappeared on January 23 while researching a story on Islamic militancy in Pakistan.

Despite the arrests of some 17 people in relation to the investigation, and public appeals from Pearl’s employers and pregnant wife, there have been no contacts with the kidnappers for some two weeks. AFP

India has no role: USA

Washington, February 11
Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf’s allegations that there may be an Indian hand in the kidnapping of US journalist Daniel Pearl has deeply “irritated” US officials, who do not believe in the claim and worry it could re-ignite Indo-Pak tension.

“State Department officials initially praised General Musharraf’s assistance in looking for Pearl. But his recent comments alleging that India might have played a role in Pearl’s disappearance have deeply irritated US officials,” leading US daily USA Today said quoting officials.

“Washington believes India had no role in Pearl’s kidnapping and also worries that General Musharraf’s comments could re-ignite India-Pakistan tension,” it said. PTI