The British-born Islamic militant who police say masterminded the abduction of Wall Street Journal reporter Daniel Pearl is cooperating with authorities and his interrogation is "going well," although security forces have not found the journalist, a police official said yesterday.
Ahmad Omar Saeed Sheikh, arrested Tuesday, had been scheduled to face formal kidnapping charges in court yesterday, but the hearing was apparently postponed by a day.
"We think Sheikh Omar is the key man," said Tariq Jamil, deputy police chief of the southern port city of Karachi, where Pearl disappeared three weeks ago. "He is cooperating. We are hopeful that Daniel is alive. The interrogation is going well."
But Jamil refused to elaborate or explain why police haven't located Pearl despite Saeed's cooperation.
Jamil said several houses were raided in Karachi, apparently on information received from Saeed.
Pakistani officials said Saeed told police Pearl is still alive. Police believe the 38-year-old reporter is still in the Karachi area.
Saeed's capture followed an intensive, nationwide manhunt and was a boost for Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf ahead of his meeting yesterday with US President George W. Bush in Washington. Musharraf is expected to seek US economic and political support to help combat Muslim extremism.
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