Good for this S.O.B. Militant Wanted in Pearl Murder KilledWednesday, November 17, 2004 BACKGROUND Info KARACHI, Pakistan — An Islamic militant wanted in the murder of American Journalist Daniel Pearl (search) was killed Wednesday in a shootout with Pakistan police who were trying to arrest him, officials said. Authorities also announced the arrest of a suspect in the deadly bombing near the U.S. Consulate in Karachi two years ago. The actions mark the latest in a series of high-profile arrests and killings of militant suspects wanted for terrorist attacks in Pakistan since its military leader, President Gen. Pervez Musharraf (search), made the Muslim country a key ally in the U.S.-led War on Terror in late 2001. Asim Ghafoor was fattaly wounded as gunfire erupted as police and intelligence agents moved in to arrest him at a hideout west of Karachi, said Javed Shah Bokhari, deputy inspector general of Karachi police. Ghafoor was wanted in the January 2002 kidnapping and killing of Pearl, a correspondent for the Wall Street Journal. Bokhari did not say what role Ghafoor might have played in Pearl's murder. The journalist's execution was videotaped and his remains were found in May 2002 in a shallow grave on the eastern outskirts of Karachi. Ahmed Omar Saeed Sheikh (search), a British-born Islamic militant, has been sentenced to death for his role in Pearl's abduction. Three other Pakistani associates have been imprisoned for life. All four have appealed their sentences. Four suspects remained at large.
