Centre directs Sindh govt to form committee to probe Saulat Mirza’s allegations

The committee is likely to be comprised of Rangers, FIA and Sindh Police officials

ISLAMABAD: The federal government has directed the Sindh government to form a committee to probe death row prisoner Saulat Mirza’s allegations against the senior Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) leadership.

In a video statement, aired just hours before his execution was meant to take place on March 19, Mirza had alleged that MQM chief Altaf Hussain ordered him to assassinate the former KESC director Shahid Hamid and that the party’s top leadership is also involved in criminal activities.

Read: Shocking revelations: MQM chief ordered KESC director’s assassination, claims Saulat

According to interior ministry officials, who are privy to the development, the Centre wants a fair probe into startling revelations made by the condemned prisoner in his confessional video statement, involving high-ups of the MQM, who according to Mirza were involved in targeted killing in Karachi.

“A high-powered committee, to be formed by the Sindh government, will assess whether the allegations levied by Mirza have any substantial grounds or not,” a senior official of ministry of interior confirmed to The Express Tribune.

Explaining the proposed procedure, the official said the committee, which is likely to be comprised of officials from Rangers, Federal Investigation Agency and Sindh police, at first stage will determine when and who filmed Mirza’s statement, after that it will also question MQM leaders whose names were mentioned by Mirza. The official revealed that the National Counter Terrorism Authority (Nacta) has already recommended ministry of interior to place the names of these MQM leaders on the Exit Control List (ECL).

The committee after recording statements of Mirza and his family members might also question some other people, if it feels the need to do so. Determining the mandate of the committee is the job of the provincial government, the official adding that Rangers will play important role in the whole process. He further revealed that the decision to write to Sindh government was taken after Sindh Rangers requested ministry of interior to probe Saulat’s revelations.

Another senior official of interior ministry revealed that Secretary Interior Shahid Khan wrote the letter on the directions of Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, who wished that “Sindh Rangers grab all information from condemned prisoner Saulat which could be helpful for wiping out criminals' from Karachi.”

After the Mirza’s video statement grabbed headlines last month, the Balochistan government formed a committee to investigate where his statement was filmed as jail officials denied that the video was filmed in Mach Central Jail.

Read: Mach jail officials receive orders to halt Saulat Mirza's execution for another 30 days

The federal government has already extended Mirza's execution for another 30 days. President Mamnoon Hussain, on the advice of Primer Minister Nawaz Sharif extended, his date of execution from March 19 to March 30 and then against from April 1 to April 30.