Saulat Mirza’s hanging now scheduled for May 12 as he seeks a retrial

Karachi
An anti-terrorism court (ATC) on Saturday reissued the death warrant for Saulat Mirza ordering the Machh Jail to hang the famed convict on May 12.
According to fresh warrant issued by Superintendent Machh Jail Muhammad Ishaq Zehri, the convict will be sent to the gallows at 4:30am on May 12.
A former worker of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), Mirza was sentenced to death by anti-terrorism court on May 24, 1999, for murdering former MD of Karachi Electric Supply Corporation Malik Shahid Hamid, his driver, Ashraf Brohi, and guard, Khan Akbar, in July 1997 in the Defence area.
Mirza had managed to halt his execution on March 19 when he disclosed names of other co-accused, including the Muttahida Quami Movement leadership, for their alleged involvement in the case in a video aired just a few hours before his scheduled hanging. It prompted the federal government to defer his execution and constitute Joint Investigation Team to probe his confession and allegations.
The execution was put off for 72 hours on the grounds that he was physically unfit for hanging. Later, the ATC fixed April 1 as his date of execution, but the federal interior ministry again recommended putting it off for a month after which a formal order was issued by the President of Pakistan.
On April 27, the administration of Machh Jail approached the ATC again for a new date but the judge declined the request and directed the administration to move a formal written application.
It was duly filed and now the ATC has rescheduled Mirza’s execution for May 12 after fulfilment of necessary legal requirements such as meeting with the heirs, examination by the doctor and hearing of last-will formalities.
Suspension of sentence
On the other hand, as the ATC for the third time has fixed a date for his execution, Mirza’s counsel approached the Chief Justice of Sindh High Court Faisal Arab to halt his hanging till his application for conducting a fresh trial of all accused involved in the murder case of KESC MD and his two others.
Mirza had sent three applications through his counsel submitting that he made the confessional statement regarding the involvement of other co-accused in the case and therefore the case was not over and a fresh trial should be conducted of all suspects.
He sought the suspension of his death sentence till the pendency of application along with his transfer to Karachi Central Jail from Mach Jail Quetta.
He also sent another application seeking protection for his spouse and other family members who had been receiving threats to their lives from South Africa. He said his wife knew the names of people threatening her and other family members and requested the court to take action against culprits by initiating proceedings against them under section 190 of the Criminal Procedure Code.
However, the court’s Member Inspection Team (MIT) returned the applications with directions to Mirza’s counsel to seek legal remedy, if so desired, in this regard.
Being aggrieved with the direction of MIT, the counsel sent another application requesting the SHC Chief Justice to halt the execution the death row convicts till the trial of all accused involved in the Shahid Hamid murder case was completed in accordance with the law.
However, sources told The News that the application had been placed before the SHC Chief Justice Faisal Arab and whether the applicant will be directed to seek legal remedy or the matter will be taken up by the judiciary hasn’t been decided yet. No order has yet been issued in this regard.

MQM men
Six workers of the MQM were produced in an ATC that extended their judicial remands till May 14 and May 16. All the men were arrested in the March 11 raid on MQM headquarters, Nine Zero.
They included Faisal Mehmood alias Faisal Mota, Farhan Shabbir and Nadir Shah, who are being tried jointly in some cases pertaining to charges of murder, and they were remanded separately till May 16.
In the cases against Naeem alias Guddu, Rizwan and Tauseef, who face charges pertaining to the May 12 carnage, the court granted an extension till May 14.