SHC turns down plea seeking delay of Saulat Mirza's execution

SHC directs Mirza's sister to approach Supreme Court

KARACHI: A two-judge bench of the Sindh High Court on Friday turned down a petition filed by convict Saulat Mirza’s sister seeking to delay his, directing her to approach the Supreme Court instead.

Sumera Wajahat, the convict’s sister, had filed a plea in the high court on Thursday to hold in abeyance the black warrants issued by an Anti-Terrorism Court to execute Mirza in Machh jail on March 19, until a decision is made by the SC against his execution.

Read: Saulat Mirza's sister files petition seeking delay of execution

An ATC had issued a death warrant for the condemned prisoner, who belongs to the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), on Wednesday.

Wajahat argued that a criminal miscellaneous application was filed by Mirza’s brother, but no order had been passed yet by the apex court in regard to it. Till a decision is not passed on the, the SHC was pleaded to hold in abeyance the black warrants.

Read: Pleading for mercy: Court returns appeal to hold Saulat Mirza’s death warrants

Mirza, a target killer, was sentenced to death in 1999 on charges of murdering former managing director of Karachi Electric Supply Corporation Shahid Hamid along with his driver Ashraf Brohi and guard Akbar Khan in July 1997 in the Defence Housing Authority area of Karachi.