KARACHI, May 9: A division bench, comprising Justices Zia Pervez and Rahmat Hussain Jaferi, appointed Advocate Wazir Husain Khoso as counsel for Ahmed Omar Shaikh, the main accused in the US journalist Daniel Pearl’s kidnapping-cum-murder case, and adjourned the hearing of appeals moved by him and other convicted accused to May 30. Ahmed Omar Shaikh was sentenced to die and four co-accused were awarded life terms by an anti-terrorism court. The prosecution also moved an appeal for enhancement of the penalty awarded to the co-accused to capital punishment.

Shaikh was hitherto represented by Advocate Waheed Katpar, who recently told the court that his client wanted him to withdraw his power of attorney in the case. The court asked the convict to name another counsel and on his failure to do so, appointed a counsel itself so that the stalled appeals could proceed.

Man acquitted: The Sindh High Court on Tuesday acquitted a man of killing and gang-rape charge setting aside his death sentence awarded to him by the trial court, adds PPI.

Riaz Ahmed has been sentenced to death by an anti-terrorism court having found him guilty of gang-raping four women and later killing them along with a boy during a dacoity bid in Surjani in 1998.According to the prosecution, the appellant, along with co-accused Amjad Lodhi, Rehan and Azeem gang-raped Ms Shamim,her two daughters Asifa, Shahnaz and tenant's daughter Momal during dacoity bid and later killed them along with Ms Shamim's son Maqsood Khan.