Karachi, Oct 21: A much-delayed appeal by an Islamic militant against the death sentence for plotting the murder of US journalist Daniel Pearl last year is due to start from November 19, a state lawyer said today. The Sindh Province High Court has adjourned Ahmed Omar Saeed Sheikh's appeal hearing six times since January. At the last sitting, it warned it would appoint a government lawyer to defend Sheikh if his own failed to appear.

However defence lawyer Abdul Waheed Katpar was not present in court today and the hearing was adjourned until November 19, state attorney Raja Qureshi told a news agency. "Defence lawyers have assured no more delay in the hearing," he said.

The British-born Islamic militant was sentenced to death last year for plotting the kidnap in January last year and murder days later of the journalist in Pakistan's largest city Karachi.

Three accomplices were give life terms, and have also appealed. The killers are still at large. Pearl, 38, the Wall Street Journal's South Asia bureau chief, was researching a story on Islamic militancy in Pakistan when he was kidnapped and killed.

Bureau Report