Ahmed Omer, the high-profile prisoner who was convicted in 2002 by an anti-terrorism court for journalist Daniel Pearl's murder, is said to have made a call abroad with the cell phone found in his possession. - Photo courtesy of www.danielpearl.org

HYDERABAD Sindh Home Secretary (Special) Kamran Dost said on Monday that Ahmed Omer Saeed Shaikh, a convict in the Daniel Pearl murder case, was being kept under strict watch in jail after a mobile phone was seized from him.

Talking to journalists after appearing before the Sindh High Court's Hyderabad circuit bench in a suo motu case initiated by Justice Amir Hani Muslim, the official said the 'very high-profile prisoner' had also made a phone call abroad.

He told the court that former jail superintendent Abdul Majeed Siddiqui and deputy superintendent Gul Mohammad Shaikh had been suspended after the authorities came to know about the issue in November. The officials were suspended on Dec 1.
 
Dost said the superintendent had been suspended four months before his retirement on charges of gross negligence. 'I have concluded the inquiry,' he said.

Dost said he would discuss security measures for the Hyderabad central jail with the regional police officer and Rangers. He admitted that the jail department was facing some problems, which were being addressed.

Ahmed Omer was awarded capital punishment on July 15, 2002, by an anti-terrorism court.