Authorities in Pakistan have decided to shift the location of Ahmad Omar Sheikh, the key accused in the murder case of an American journalist Denial Pearl, citing security reasons, reported The Express Tribune.  Omar Sheikh, who had remained under the custody of Sindh Police in Karachi since 2002, was moved to Lahore on Monday. He was handed over to the Punjab Counter-Terrorism department due to security reasons, said Sindh Police. 

An anti-terrorism court in Pakistan had convicted Omar Sheikh in 2002 for the abduction and murder of the Wall Street Journal. However, in January 2021, the Pakistan apex court acquitted him of all charges. 

Last month, the apex court also ordered the Sindh government in Pakistan to shift Omar Sheikh from his death cell to a regular cell. The court further asked the authority to prepare a safe house for Omar where he could freely spend his time with his family. 

So far, the Sindh government has twice appealed in the apex court against his acquittal in the murder case. Also, there is significant international pressure, especially from the US, on Pakistan to get him convicted in the case and had sought his extradition for trial. 

The US government had reacted strongly to his acquitted by the court as a result of technical lapses by law enforcement agencies in Pakistan.