July 19: Mariane Pearl, the widow of Daniel Pearl has filed a case against Pakistan’s largest commercial bank, Habib Bank Ltd. along with several other charities including Al Rashid trust for providing the fund for the murder of her husband. The suit names al-Qaeda and members of the radical Islamist terrorist group too.
Mariane, invoking international law for hostage taking in her suit asked for an unspecified amount for the damages done to her for the role of the bank. The suit accused the bank of rendering help to the terrorists by handling the transactions of such trusts which are allegedly linked to al-Qaeda.
Both the trusts the outlawed Islamic charity Al Rashid trust and Al Akhtar International are considered by the United Nations as affiliates of Al-Qaeda.
Meanwhile, the president and chief executive of the bank have denied the charges of any such funding saying this as baseless.
Daniel Pearl ‘The Wall Street’ journal reporter was beheaded by the terrorists in Pakistan in 2002. ‘The wall street Journel’ reporter was following a story on al-Qaeda when he was taken hostage by the al-Qaeda militants from Karachi to be killed later. His murder was videotaped.
Mohammad Khalid Sheikh, a mastermind behind September 11 attacks, who is presently in US custody was said to be involved in brutal killing of Pearl as is also accepted by the Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf.
Another accused in the suit is Ahmad Omar Sayeed Sheikh who accepted the organization and arrangement of kidnapping of the reporter.
Mariane said through her statement released by her lawyer “This process delves deeper into the investigation, and to bring accountability and punishment to those involved with his kidnapping, torture and murder”.
Anti-terrorism act 1996 allows US citizens to have civil action against those who support terrorism. Mariane took legal action against the accused under this law only which allows 10 year period to take action.
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