Pearl sentence today, security beefed up

Fearing a violent backlash if a guilty verdict is handed down on Monday in the Daniel Pearl murder trial, Pakistan authorities have deployed unprecedented security in this southern city where the verdict will be announced.

‘‘We are taking extraordinary security measures to an extent that have never ever been taken in the history of Hyderabad,’’ Abdul Rauf Yusufzai, additional inspector general of the city said.

The trial of four men accused of kidnapping and murdering US reporter Pearl began in Karachi on April 22, but was moved on April 30 to a prison here in Hyderabad.

Security was also beefed up in Karachi, from where Pearl was abducted on Jan 23. ‘‘We are prepared in case of any retaliation or reaction,’’ Home Secretary of Sindh province, Brig Mukhtar Sheikh, said.