Qari Abdul Hayee is believed to be the one who facilitated Pearl’s kidnapping, a senior Pakistani official said.
The official, who had direct knowledge of the arrest, did not want to be named because he is not authorized to speak to the media.
Pearl was kidnapped while researching a story in Karachi about Pakistani militants and the so-called “shoe bomber” Richard Reid.
He was later decapitated, and a video of his killing was sent to U.S. officials.