SHC rejects plea seeking delay in Saulat Mirza's execution

Mirza is scheduled to be hanged on May 12 for murdering former KESC managing director in 1997

KARACHI: The Sindh High Court on Friday rejected a plea seeking delay in death row prisoner Saulat Mirza's execution.

“There is no cogent reason for re-investing the 18-year-old murder of then managing director of the Karachi Electric Supply Company, Shahid Hamid, for which notorious target killer Saulat Mirza is scheduled to be hanged on May 12.”

A division bench, comprising Justices Naimatullah Phulpoto and Shaukat Ali Memon, passed this ruling while dismissing a petition filed by the death row convict Saulat who had sought a delay in his execution till fresh investigations are carried out against those whom he had named in an alleged confessional video.

The petition was filed by Mirza's wife who requested that her husband's hanging should be postponed until a fresh probe takes place.

Mirza was sentenced to death in 1999 for murdering former Karachi Electric Supply Company Managing Director Shahid Hamid in 1997.

The two-member bench observed on Friday that the plea was not maintainable as the convict had exhausted all remedies available before the appellate courts as well as the president.

With just four days remaining till Mirza's execution, the provincial high court on Thursday sought replies from the interior and prison authorities over the possibility of reopening his case.

Read: 'Dodging death': SHC issues notices to AG, ATC in Saulat Mirza case

Mirza, who is currently being held in Mach Jail, had his March 19 hanging postponed after his video confession emerged wherein he made startling claims.

Read: Execution deferment: Saulat Mirza makes second plea

Responses were sought from the advocate general, prosecutor general and the ATC based on a petition filed by Mirza’s wife Nighat. She requested that his execution should be delayed until a fresh probe has taken place.