Daniel Pearl's family hails Asadullah’s arrest

E-Paper | June 07, 2026

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US journalist Daniel Pearl. — File Photo

NEW YORK: The family of slain US journalist Daniel Pearl welcomed on Monday the arrest in Pakistan of a former leader of a banned militant outfit allegedly involved in his 2002 murder.

Popularly known as Asadullah, Qari Abdul Hayee, from Karachi's eastern Gulshan-e-Iqbal neighborhood was detained in a raid on his hideout on Sunday, according to a spokesman for Pakistan's Rangers paramilitary force.

Ruth and Judea Pearl, who live in the Los Angeles area, hailed the news, in a statement issued through the New York-based Daniel Pearl Foundation.

“We are gratified with this latest arrest and hope that justice will be served in a timely manner on all those who were involved in the abduction and murder of our son, Danny,” they said.

Pearl, 38, was the South Asia bureau chief for The Wall Street Journal when he was abducted in Karachi on January 23, 2002, while researching a story about militants.

A graphic video showing his decapitation was delivered to the US consulate in the city nearly a month later.

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SP Bansal

Mar 19, 2013 05:42am

But entire nation is indulged in militant activities unfortunately.

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Maryam

Mar 19, 2013 07:23am

Such a good move, although late but still welcomed

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RAW is WAR

Mar 19, 2013 07:38am

not too fast

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Shah

Mar 19, 2013 10:07am

He should be publicly hanged and be made an example of. The family of daniel pearl should be asked about what kind of punishment they'd like to give him, just out of courtesy. Some families would like him to be hanged till death while some would want him to be locked up for the rest of his life. All depends.

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MMS (USA)

Mar 19, 2013 10:41am

I have a funny feeling that this story will end with 'released due to lack of evidence'.

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muhammad

Mar 19, 2013 11:06am

All other terrorists should also be caught and hanged in public

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shaw

Mar 19, 2013 12:15pm

He must be send to USA for the trial.

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hyderphd74

Mar 19, 2013 01:21pm

Before hanging he should be paraded naked on the streets of Karachi and then his dead body should be sent to Pearl's family for what ever they would feel appropriate to do to it. May be they would like to burn him in public. If they would consent to do something like that, then I would not only attend the ceremony would also help them organize it. Such barbarians deserve no less treatment. Putting him on trial or sending him to the USA. It will only be waste of time and money. He does not deserve either. Oh Musharraf ! where art thou when we need you. This government is too coward to do any thing like this and the judiciary is even worse. This animal will not only go free but with great display of pomp and splendor.

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Dr.Dang

Mar 19, 2013 04:14pm

Either house arrest or released due to lack of evidence. I promise you this.

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Pakistani

Mar 20, 2013 11:48am

This is rich coming from an Indian!!

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Nizhat

Mar 20, 2013 12:43pm

The arrest is a great success to Pakistan but as they have taken there American criminals to there country for trial, So we must put him in trial in public, as a remembrance to every one that there is a LAW above every crime.

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