JIT formed to probe Saulat Mirza’s revelations

KARACHI: DIG Amir Sheikh will lead a Joint Investigation Team (JIT) formed to probe startling revelations unearthed by former Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) worker and death row convict Saulat Mirza, sources said late on Thursday.

The JIT will be comprised of officials from Military Intelligence (MI), Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) and Investigation Police.

Sources also said that the probe team will present a report to the interior ministry within seven working days. The team will also interrogate Mirza in Machh Jail, they added.

Hours before his scheduled execution on March 19, Mirza hurled serious allegations at his former party and its chief Altaf Hussain in a confession video.

He said MQM’s senior leader Babar Ghauri passed on to him Altaf Hussain’s orders of assassinating KESC chief Shahid Hamid. Mirza also claimed that the party uses Governor Sindh Dr Ishratul Ebad’s influence to protect MQM’s criminal workers.

Meanwhile Ubaib alias K2, who was arrested along with several workers and wanted suspects in a raid conducted by Rangers on MQM headquarters Nine-Zero in Karachi earlier this month, was presented before an anti-terrorism court (ATC) Thursday.

The suspect, wanted in a murder case of police officer Kamran Murtaza, was allowed to meet with his family members before given to police on an eight-day physical remand.

Activists of a political party, Mohammad Shahid alias Japani and Mohammad Ijaz alias Tona were also given to police on a seven-day remand by the court.