New judge, venue for Pearl case

Chief Prosecutor Raja Qureshi talks to reporters at Sindh high court

KARACHI, Pakistan (CNN) -- Prosecutors, citing terror threats, have won a change of venue in the trial of four men accused in the kidnapping and death of U.S. journalist Daniel Pearl.

The Sindh High Court agreed to move proceedings from Karachi to the Hyderabad Central Jail. Also, the court agreed with a prosecution request for a new judge; Ali Ashraf is replacing Ghafoor Memon.

The trial will resume Friday.

Chief Prosecutor Raja Qureshi said he received information that at the Karachi Central Jail, where the trial was being held, prosecuting attorneys and their witnesses were likely targets for attack.

CNN NewsPass VIDEO Prosecutors in the case of the death of reporter Daniel Pearl request a change of venue for security reasons. CNN's Ash-har Quraishi reports (April 30) Play video

"There are possible reports from all quarters that the prosecution team (has been) threatened to be assassinated and the prosecution witnesses could come under attack," Qureshi said.

The prosecutors asked Monday for the change of venue and petitioned last week for the new judge.

Hyderabad is 90 miles northeast of Karachi. Both cities are in Sindh province.

Courtroom threats

Prosecutors said Memon had lost control of the courtroom and needed to be replaced. Qureshi said suspects have been disruptive in the courtroom and made threats against

prosecutors and witnesses.

Saeed: The prime suspect in the case

Pearl was kidnapped on January 23 on his way to interview a Muslim fundamentalist leader in Pakistan. On February 21, the U.S. State Department confirmed Pearl was killed, based on a videotape showing his body, which has not yet been found.

Charged along with Ahmed Omar Saeed Sheikh -- believed to have orchestrated the kidnapping -- are Sheikh Adil, Salman Saquib and his brother, Fahad Naseem.