Former Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) worker Saulat Mirza’s video message has managed to dodge his hanging for 72 hours.
In video message, Mirza alleged MQM top leadership and said “On the behest of party’s London-based leader Altaf Hussain, Senator Babar Ghouri ordered the four of us to gun down Shahid Hamid, the then managing director of the power utility, Karachi Electric Supply Corporation (K-Electric) ,”
His statement shook the federal capital out of slumber and President Mamnoon Hussain, in an emergent high-level meeting in the President House, put off Mirza’s execution for 72 hours. The President House did not release further details.
According to sources, Machh Jail authorities have received the orders to stay the hanging for another three days.
Ishaq Zehri, Superintendent Machh Jail has also confirmed and said “We have received a fax from the President House. Saulat Mirza will not be hanged Thursday,”
Mirza, having tears in his tears eyes, warned the party workers, sympathisers, and wannabe members, against falling in the wrong hands and the subsequent brainwashing.
“Today I have become an example for all those who are in the party or deliberating to join it. Let me tell you they use the workers as tissue paper wipes and then throw them away. So open your eyes and do what is right,” he said dubbing himself as other activists as expendables.
Adding to his statement, a disillusioned Mirza minced no words when he sounded out he had been disowned by the party.
“They always turn their back on the workers who land in the hands of law,” said the erstwhile hitman.
Mirza said that he did not want to be go to the gallows without sharing with the authorities a secret hoard of information that could prove vital in bringing about peace in Karachi.
“I know a lot of things that can help the men of affairs restore calm in the metropolis. I am not asking them to undo my punishment, but rather give me some time to atone my sins” said he.
According to Mirza, the former party leader, Syed Mustafa Kamal, was kicked out of party in an unspeakably unceremonious way for his outspokenness.
Kamal is a serving Senator in the upper house and has served as the Nazim (mayor) of Karachi from 2005 to 2010.
The dead-man-talking also accused the Governor of Sindh, Dr Ishrat-ul-Ebad of using his authority to have the criminals find a safe passage. The Governor House, in a late night statement, denied these accusations in the strongest of words.
In his video statement, Mirza also dragged Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) into the ‘accusatory picture’ by alleging that the MQM had had him facilitated when Asif Ali Zardari led political party was in power.
The PPP leadership spun into action after the statement.
Information Minister Sindh, Sharjeel Memon had to wake up to talk to media and clarify his party’s position.
“This is outrageous. Pack of lies. The PPP had never facilitated any criminal,” Memon said promising complete protection to Saulat Mirza’s family.
Saulat Mirza was sentenced to death by an anti-terrorism court on May 24, 1999, for killing the then MD Karachi Electric Supply Corporation, Shahid Hamid, and his driver and a guard on July 5, 1997, in Karachi. He was arrested on Dec 10, 1998, from the Karachi Airport on his return from Bangkok.
