NEWSLINKS US EDITION SOUTH ASIA COLUMNISTS DIARY SPECIALS INTERVIEWS CAPITAL BUZZ REDIFF POLL DEAR REDIFF THE STATES ELECTIONS ARCHIVES SEARCH REDIFF
Stating that the Pakistani judge in the murder trial of journalist Daniel Pearl was removed for technical reasons, Washington has said it expects the trial to open on Monday, while reiterating its demand for extradition of main accused Sheikh Omar to the US.
"We understand the trial will go forward on Monday as scheduled. US law enforcement officials will continue to assist Pakistani prosecutors as appropriate," State Department spokesman Richard Boucher said on Friday.
"They (Pakistan) do intend to go forward with this trial without any particular delay. It was a technical reason for the change, and they appear to be prepared to go forward. We have always supported justice -- that justice be done. We'll work together to make sure that objective is achieved. There has been excellent cooperation thus far between our law enforcement agencies," he said.
"We understand that Judge Arshad Noor Khan has been taken off the Omar case because he heard statements from the accused in a February court appearance and can therefore be considered a witness, according to the defence counsel," he added.
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