Pearl murder case: SHC hears contempt case against Sindh officials.

KARACHI -- The Sindh High Court on Wednesday heard a contempt of court petition over detention of four accused of Daniel Pearl murder case, media reported.

The high court had issued notices to the Chief Secretary Sindh and others in a contempt petition.

Superintendent Central Jail Hassan Sehto and special secretary home were present during the contempt hearing.

The court expressed displeasure over absence of the Chief Secretary Sindh and the Home Secretary in the case hearing.

'They don't know contempt proceedings against them are in progress in the court,' the bench asked.

The court adjourned further hearing of the case and ordered the provincial officials to appear before the court in the next hearing of the case. 'The bench summoned reply of the parties on January 20.'

A bench of the high court had declared a notification with regard to detention of four accused Ahmed Omer Saeed Shaikh, Fahad Naseem, Salman Saqib and Sheikh Adil in Daniel Pearl murder case, as null and void and had ordered their immediate release from the jail.

A contempt of court petition was filed against the provincial chief secretary, jail officials and others over the government's failure in compliance of the court orders.

The court had issued notices to the chief secretary, additional chief secretary and other officials over the contempt petition and summoned reply from them and the jail authorities.

The bench while declaring the...