The trial of 11 suspects charged with the abduction and murder of US journalist Daniel Pearl will begin next month inside a Pakistani prison, it was announced today.
"The trial will commence on April 5th," chief public prosecutor Mr Raja Qureshi said outside a Karachi anti-terrorism court, after submitting the final charge sheets.
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A photo released in February of Daniel Pearl in captivity
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"The government has decided that the trial should be held inside the prison because of security reaons."
Justice Shabbar Ahmed set the trial date during today's hearing, and appointed another judge from the anti-terrorism court to preside over the trial.
Mr Qureshi said the court had not yet decided whether the hearing would be in-camera.
Chief suspect, British-born Pakistani militant Sheikh Omar, and Shiekh Adil, one of three men accused of sending e-mails containing photos of the Wall Street Journalcorrespondent in custody and threats to kill him, appeared in the court as police filed the final charge sheets.
They were brought from Karachi Central Prison in armoured police vehicles to the courthouse, which was surrounded by some 200 police.
Omar, Adil and nine accomplices, of whom seven are still at large, were formally charged last week with murder, kidnap for ransom and terrorist activities.
AFP