Security tight ahead of Daniel Pearl murder trial

Scores of Pakistani police armed with assault rifles searched vehicles entering Karachi’s central prison today ahead of the trial of a British-born Islamic militant for kidnap and murder.

Paramilitary troops also patrolled the prison’s perimeter in vehicles mounted with machine guns.

29-year-old Ahmed Omar Saeed Sheikh and three co-defendants have been charged with kidnapping and murdering US reporter Daniel Pearl in January.

All four face the death penalty if convicted.