Saulat Mirza's execution should not be postponed: Khursheed Shah
Says delaying the target killer's punishment has benefitted MQM politically
Speaking about Karachi operation, Shah says it was launched on demand of MQM. PHOTO: PID
LAHORE:
Leader of the Opposition in the Nation Assembly Khurshid Shah said on Sunday that Muttahida Qaumi Movement target killer and death row convict Saulat Mirza should be punished as decided by court.
“Even if Saulat Mirza’s statement is true, his punishment shouldn’t be postponed or converted into a life-sentence. He should be punished. His statement is on record and that can be investigated. Delaying his punishment has benefitted MQM politically,” Shah said.
Addressing the media at the PPP Punjab Secretariat in Lahore, the opposition leader added that the statement of a man sitting in a death-cell should not hold any significance.
Just a few hours before his planned execution on March 17, Mirza, in a video released by a private televison channel, alleged that he received the order to kill former KESC Director Shahid Hamid from his party's chief Altaf Hussain at MQM leader Babar Ghauri’s residence.
Read: MQM chief ordered KESC director’s assassination, claims Saulat
He also lauded the military for bringing peace to Sindh and for carrying out an operation without any discrimination.
Shah elaborated that 60% of those killed in the Karachi operation so far were from Lyari, 20% were Taliban, while 8% to 10% were from the MQM and 5% to 6% were from the ANP and Sunni Tehreek.
“Lyari is PPP’s constituencies but we are not crying. The operation should be against all criminals. The military is carrying out it without any discrimination and has brought peace in Sindh to a great extent,” he maintained.
‘Bilawal to attend ZAB’s death anniversary’
PPP chairman Bilawal Bhutto will be in Pakistan for his grandfather and former prime minister Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto’s death anniversary on April 4, Shah said.
He went on to rule out any differences between Bilawal and his father Asif Ali Zardari.
Earlier, a senior PPP leader has disclosed that Bilawal would not be attending the 36th death anniversary of his grandfather, to be held in in Garhi Khuda Bux.
Read: Bilawal to skip Zulfikar Ali Bhutto's death anniversary event in Garhi Khuda Bux
Meanwhile, Shah further said that sit-ins were not able to achieve anything for four months and that the PPP played an important role in mediating between the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf and the government.
“I welcome the agreement between PTI and the government on the issue of forming a judicial commission. If Imran Khan goes for any other adventure after this, it would be devastating for him politically,” he added.
Read: Probing May 2013 elections 'major achievement' for Pakistan, says Imran
Leader of the Opposition in the Nation Assembly Khurshid Shah said on Sunday that Muttahida Qaumi Movement target killer and death row convict Saulat Mirza should be punished as decided by court.
“Even if Saulat Mirza’s statement is true, his punishment shouldn’t be postponed or converted into a life-sentence. He should be punished. His statement is on record and that can be investigated. Delaying his punishment has benefitted MQM politically,” Shah said.
Addressing the media at the PPP Punjab Secretariat in Lahore, the opposition leader added that the statement of a man sitting in a death-cell should not hold any significance.
Just a few hours before his planned execution on March 17, Mirza, in a video released by a private televison channel, alleged that he received the order to kill former KESC Director Shahid Hamid from his party's chief Altaf Hussain at MQM leader Babar Ghauri’s residence.
Read: MQM chief ordered KESC director’s assassination, claims Saulat
He also lauded the military for bringing peace to Sindh and for carrying out an operation without any discrimination.
Shah elaborated that 60% of those killed in the Karachi operation so far were from Lyari, 20% were Taliban, while 8% to 10% were from the MQM and 5% to 6% were from the ANP and Sunni Tehreek.
“Lyari is PPP’s constituencies but we are not crying. The operation should be against all criminals. The military is carrying out it without any discrimination and has brought peace in Sindh to a great extent,” he maintained.
‘Bilawal to attend ZAB’s death anniversary’
PPP chairman Bilawal Bhutto will be in Pakistan for his grandfather and former prime minister Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto’s death anniversary on April 4, Shah said.
He went on to rule out any differences between Bilawal and his father Asif Ali Zardari.
Earlier, a senior PPP leader has disclosed that Bilawal would not be attending the 36th death anniversary of his grandfather, to be held in in Garhi Khuda Bux.
Read: Bilawal to skip Zulfikar Ali Bhutto's death anniversary event in Garhi Khuda Bux
Meanwhile, Shah further said that sit-ins were not able to achieve anything for four months and that the PPP played an important role in mediating between the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf and the government.
“I welcome the agreement between PTI and the government on the issue of forming a judicial commission. If Imran Khan goes for any other adventure after this, it would be devastating for him politically,” he added.
Read: Probing May 2013 elections 'major achievement' for Pakistan, says Imran