Man with links to Pearl case dies

A Pakistani businessman who owned the Karachi property where American reporter Daniel Pearl was slain in 2002 died less than a month after he was freed from four years of mysterious detention, his family said.

At a hospital, Dr. Ali Azmat Abidi said Saud Memon, 44, died of tuberculosis and meningitis.

His family says Memon disappeared in March 2003. Human rights groups have said they suspect that he and several others were held by intelligence agents investigating Pearl’s slaying.

Memon’s brother said the property owner was dumped outside their home April 28 in very poor health. His sister said he was not connected to Al Qaeda or Pearl’s death. He was never charged. Pakistan has convicted several men in the case.