JIT report reveals: Saulat names 3 prisoners having vital information

Sindh provincial authority sends 11-page JIT report to the federal interior ministry

KARACHI: Besides repeating almost the same statement that the condemned prisoner, Saulat Mirza, revealed in his video link message, he has also given some additional information and named three others imprisoned in different jails to be investigated as they have key information, one of the members of the Joint Investigation Team (JIT) told The Express Tribune.

The JIT has completed its task over startling video statement of Mirza while the provincial authority has sent its 11-page JIT report to the federal interior ministry.

A JIT was formed to investigate the allegations made by death-row prisoner Saulat Ali Khan, also known as Saulat Mirza.

Traffic DIG Dr Ameer Ali Shaikh headed the JIT while Special Branch security SSP Muneer Shaikh, Counter-Terrorism Department operations SSP Usman Ijaz Bajwa, South Zone investigation SSP Faizullah Korejo and Jamshed division SP Akhtar Farooq were the members of the team while representatives of the intelligence agencies including ISI, MI and IB were also part of the JIT.

Mirza was awarded the death sentence for murdering Shahid Hamid, the managing director of then Karachi Electric Supply Company (now K-Electric), along with his driver and guard on July 5, 1997.

The JIT officials on April 15 recorded the fresh confessions of the condemned prisoner and investigated into Mirza’s confessional video released hours before he was to be hanged.

“The JIT report, made up of 11 pages, has been sent to the federal interior ministry. There was an entire world in the JIT. The confessions are amazing and shocking,” explained a JIT member.

SHC returns Mirza’s pleas

The Sindh High Court (SHC) on Wednesday returned applications of Saulat Mirza, seeking suspension of his execution till completion of fresh trial of Shahid Hamid’s murder and protection for his family members in Karachi.

Sources told The Express Tribune that Mirza had written four applications to the SHC Member Inspection Team.

In the applications, filed through advocate Juma Khan, Mirza had sought directions for the authorities concerned to initiate re-trial of accused nominated by him in the 1994 killing.

Till the outcome of fresh trial, the execution, which has temporarily been stayed by the interior ministry, may be suspended, the applicant requested.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 30^th, 2015.