WANSTEAD Islamic militant Ahmed Sheikh (left) has been sentenced to hang in Pakistan for the kidnap and murder of American journalist Daniel Pearl.

The 28-year-old former Forest School pupil received the damning verdict on Monday and was locked up in Pakistan's Hyderabad central jail to await his fate.

But while Sheikh sits on death row, his devastated family continue to protest his innocence and are rallying around to do everything within their power to overturn the judgement.

His brother, Awais, vowed to 'fight for justice' and praised the support of family, friends and neighbours during the family's ordeal.

He said: "We all feel very upset by this verdict. It's really disgusting that a member of my family, who is innocent, is going to be sentenced to death for a crime he didn't commit.

"My family are known to be decent, model citizens in the community and people have been very supportive to us."

He continued: "I have recently returned from Pakistan, and all I can say is this 'trial' has been farcical to the point of absurdity. It seemed obvious from the outset that justice was not the primary objective.

"We're going to appeal this week and hopefully the case will go to a higher court which is going to be a bit more transparent and fair. It will be one of the provincial courts, either Lahore or Karachi."

Commenting on his brother's previous imprisonment in connection with three British backpackers in 1994, Awais said: "Obviously I wish my brother had never been incarcerated for five years in an Indian prison in spite of being acquitted of the charges against him.

"I'm just so distressed about what's going on now. He said he has nothing to do with this event and he doesn't know who did it, or why."

Describing Ahmed's feelings, Awais said: "He's very upset and he is quite bitter, as anyone would be if they've received a death sentence and were innocent. I can't imagine how he's feeling at the moment - it's quite terrible.

"I saw him when I was out there from June 26 to July 6 and the whole family were quite optimistic because the case was quite clearly fabricated to any objective observer and was sure to fail."

Awais believes that his brother is a "scapegoat" to appease international opinion following the murder of Daniel Pearl.

He said: "Behind all this, there is a prevailing sycophancy of Pakistan to America. It seems they want to do something to please international opinion."

Awais condemned discrepancies in the case, including the fact that his brother handed himself in on February 5 and was arrested on February 12, but Pakistani police maintained his arrest took place on February 13.

The family have also slammed the unrealiability of the 30 or so prosecution witnesses and also the comment of President Musharraf who told a German news magazine he would prefer to see Sheikh hanged in Pakistan than be extradited to the USA.

Sheikh's distraught mother, Qaissia, told the Guardian from her Wanstead home: "I'm disgusted about the trial. It's hard because it's been a very unfair trial, totally untrue. We're going to appeal against it."

July 18, 2002 13:00