Govt dissolves committee probing Saulat Mirza's death-cell video

E-Paper | March 04, 2026

QUETTA: Balochistan government on Wednesday dissolved the committee formed to investigate the video recording of Saulat Mirza, a condemned prisoner currently on death row in Machh Jail.

Sources in Balochistan Home and Tribal Affairs Department confirmed that the committee was dissolved following issuance of a new death warrant by an Anti Terrorist Court (ATC).

The ATC has fixed April 1 as the fresh date of execution of former Muttahida Qaumi Movement worker Saulat Mirza. "There is no justification for the committee after issuance of fresh death warrants," sources added.

The controversial video of Saulat Mirza, in which he claimed that he received direct orders from MQM leader Babar Ghauri to assassinate the then KESC chief Shahid Hamid, was released hours before his hanging in Machh jail on March 19.

Also read: Saulat spills the beans; execution stayed

“I was summoned at Babar Ghauri’s house where I took Altaf Hussain’s orders via telephone. Altaf Hussain would usually pass on instructions through Babar Ghauri,” Saulat Mirza had alleged.

Following the airing of this video, Saulat Mirza's execution was postponed for 72 hours through a presidential order.

Balochistan government had then formed a committee headed by Inspector General Prisons Bashir Bangulzai to investigate how the video was recorded from a jail cell. The committee comprised senior officers from the provincial government's prisons and home departments.

Balochistan Home Minister Sarfaraz Bugti had ordered the inquiry.

"Yes the committee has been dissolved," Bashir Bangulzai, the Balochistan prisons chief, told Dawn.com.

However, he gave no details on reasons behind the dissolution of the committee.

Saulat Mirza's video interview, which was aired on private TV channels on the night of his execution, has changed the overall national political atmosphere of the country.

Pakistan

Syed Ali Shah is DawnNews' Quetta bureau chief.

He tweets @alishahjourno

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Kobe

Mar 25, 2015 07:51pm

A committee should be formed to investigate the dissolving of the other committee- and we should make sure the new committee is not dissolved.

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Ghaznavi

Mar 25, 2015 07:55pm

His execution should be stayed until all the allegations are probed. Looks like the government has bowed to pressure and we are back to square 1.

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M.Saeed

Mar 25, 2015 07:59pm

He should be kept alive till the whole matter is investigated and truth unearthed without slightest of doubt.

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John

Mar 25, 2015 08:02pm

Some thing fishy... "However, he gave no details on reasons behind the dissolution of the committee." Don't hush things under the carpet. Make a full powered committee to investigate. Till then no hanging.

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M Saleem Chaudhry

Mar 25, 2015 08:10pm

One is really confused by the tomfooleries of this kind on such sensitive issues. Actually in the light of leads from Saulat Mirza's video statement, the probing should start from probing the role of Musharaf and his stooges,likewise Zardari&co about giving free hand to criminals and releasing convicted criminals through NRO and even courts by withdrawing cases or spoiling evidences.

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H L

Mar 25, 2015 08:11pm

We need more info on the committee report. This person is going to die for his own mistakes, but we should not let the justice be a toy for any political party. Party heads must be brought to justice if what this person is saying is correct, and I don't have any doubts that he is lying. If the government is not bringing MQM heads to trial government is collaborating with them. Especially when we have everything on record. Give it a fair trial.

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saeeds

Mar 25, 2015 08:14pm

He should be punished , what ever he said we don't know is true or not. But what we all know his party is doing this kind terrorist act for long time.

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Khan-Haqiqi

Mar 25, 2015 08:16pm

MAsters asks to dissolve the committee after media trial of MQM let they also make videos of Taliban leader who can pin point who in establishment are supporting them

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muhammad

Mar 25, 2015 08:19pm

Drama is over ! IK /PTI and JI and all right wing parties would be very sad to read this news

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Zafar

Mar 25, 2015 08:19pm

Saulat Mirza is a convicted murderer. His original confession was made 15 years ago when he admitted to being an MQM hit man. The only difference in this video is that he named names - no surprises there. He still remains a MQM hit man!

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Leaker

Mar 25, 2015 08:31pm

Probe to find out how Saulat Mirza's video recording came out is a separate matter from his execution. It should still be probed how important videos are being leaked from "very" secure prison.

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HRK

Mar 25, 2015 08:49pm

Why can no one file a case against Babar Ghauri if Mirza has claimed he was also involved in it?

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Riaz

Mar 25, 2015 08:59pm

Where is the justice?

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Nana

Mar 25, 2015 09:13pm

Don't destroy the witness till you investigate the accused criminals.

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Nizamuddin Ahmad Aali

Mar 25, 2015 09:13pm

Put him ( Mr.Mirza ) on trial on live TV in a Q&A session. Let him live till he is not needed. MQM has also a legal right to cross question him, if the choose.

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Harmony

Mar 25, 2015 09:22pm

Who cares what how the video came about? What we care is revelations and investigation of those who were named.

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Abdul Rahman Khan

Mar 25, 2015 09:28pm

people's reaction as to how the video was filmed is absolutely childish. It is more important to know the truth and authenticity of the allegations levelled by SM against MQM's prominent leaders. SM's new allegations in the murder case were not part of the original prosecution as such. SM didn't involve the ' boss' and others in the original prosecution because he was banking on them for their support for release or a mild sentence. The new revelations involving Party chief and his stalwarts now demand added investigati0n in the case. Till then leave SM's execution as valid and only be deferred. A haste in his execution will only help save the perpetrators.

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Napier Mole

Mar 25, 2015 09:28pm

The plot thickens - and thickens!

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Asif

Mar 25, 2015 09:42pm

Destroying the evidence? Obviously the plan was to intimidate MQM rather than taken any actions. Everything is crystal clear now !

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Haque Parast

Mar 25, 2015 09:49pm

And the dirty games continue. Leak a video/statement to media and then just go silent. Let the media do all the mud sliding and act as the judge, jury and executioner. By the time anything ever reaches court.. the harm is already done.

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Danial

Mar 25, 2015 09:55pm

How is his execution associated with this committee? In no other place in this world can a patient on death row suddenly show up on tv and offer to provide evidence if his execution is stayed.

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Fajar

Mar 25, 2015 09:58pm

Probing and then no probing, many excuses but hardly justified on the ground mentioned in the news

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Aaqil

Mar 25, 2015 10:14pm

Very sad news indeed. How can a committee formed to investigate such an important issue be dissolved on the pretext that death warrant has been re-issued ? Something is cooking behind the doors for sure. It seems the matter is being quietly hushed up / buried. Very sad state of affairs in our country.

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Mar 25, 2015 10:15pm

@Kobe Why not make sure that the first committee is fruitful. This guy said it to his wife nothing will happen to him. He will not be hanged.

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Fahim Khan

Mar 25, 2015 10:23pm

Where is Abdul Aziz of Lal Masjid?

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asphyx

Mar 25, 2015 10:30pm

Don't destroy the witness till you investigate the accused criminals.

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Haque Parast

Mar 25, 2015 10:32pm

@Abdul Rahman Khan an inmate's statement on death row has no "truth and authenticity" because he will say everything and anything that can delay his demise even for a second. It is a LAW, not just Pakistani but international Law.

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Merchant

Mar 25, 2015 10:32pm

I am sure a deal has been reached between Nawaz government and MQM on a key political issue. That is the reason of dissolution of the committee and above all hanging of someone who had vital inside information.

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IMTIAZ SYEF

Mar 25, 2015 10:35pm

@Abdul Rahman Khan The birds of same feather flock together. The objective seems to be"destroy the evidence". S. Mirza's execution be deferred until all parties are tried - convicted or acquitted. If this witness is intentionally destroyed as is the instant case then the case is ripe for Government to be impeached. Watch it they will execute him now to save the principal criminals. Wonder how poeople vote for such corrupt ignorants.

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Sab Se Pehle Pakistan

Mar 25, 2015 10:35pm

Ideal example of dirty politics and conspiracy.

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Sarwar

Mar 26, 2015 12:49am

To be honest it is now not the matter of hanging. Basically committee should be there to find out how the security was breached and how any one can take the camera in death cell and film his confession or interview him. This is a matter of highest form of security breach, which should be thoughrolly investigated.

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Viking Star

Mar 26, 2015 01:16am

The fresh death warrant would only bring happiness on the faces of real culprits who used Mirza as a tool. Why he is being hanged without probe to his allegations? Does someone want to save actual culprits by shutting Mirza's mouth forever? I am really disappointed.

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Baba

Mar 26, 2015 01:27am

really?

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Haider Rehman

Mar 26, 2015 01:54am

Is govt afraid Saulat will expose some of the "protectors of democracy "?

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fida sayani USA

Mar 26, 2015 03:39am

What is the hurry in executing him. He on on the death row has made a very serious allegation against his bosses and it is the responsibility of the Government to full investigate those allegation, unless the government itself has some thing to hide or cover up.

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m. a

Mar 26, 2015 03:55am

Sir, we want a justice done 100%. Mr. Saulat Mirza is a criminal certified by the supreme court. That can not change. He has to be punished according to the law of the Pakistan. It appears that he is a big person f PMLN and Ch. Nisar. I believe that Saulat and Ch. Nisar shoud be hanged on the same day. We know that Nawz is culprit but there are lot of stupid associated with PMLM.

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mudathir shah

Mar 26, 2015 04:52am

When he was an MQM activist, the Government bowed to pressure of not executing him. Now that he has named the real culprits, MQM has pressurized the Government in rushing to his execution. His execution should be stayed and the allegations should be probed. It seems that the whole state of Pakistan, media and the Government is helpless in front of MQM and the only entity challenging MQM's rogue tactics is the 'Rangers'.

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Agha Asad Raza

Mar 26, 2015 05:14am

Just get it over with it and move on to the next one!

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Zobia Khan

Mar 26, 2015 05:52am

@Harmony Exactly why do we care who made the video??

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M. Siddique

Mar 26, 2015 06:34am

The government is not sincere in cleansing of Karachi. Murderers will roam the streets commit crimes.

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Muhammad Farooq

Mar 26, 2015 06:36am

Managers of status quo are more powerful than agents of change in this age and era.

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A. Khan

Mar 26, 2015 07:06am

So the goal is to hush Saulat's explosive claims as much as possible.

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Nazia Junejo

Mar 26, 2015 07:23am

Will there ever be rule of law in this country?!! if it suits the powers ,the Prime Minister of the country gets capital punishment even without committing a crime and if it does not suit the powers,the murderers and looters occupy the governors mansions and senators seats and have a field day every day. What a pathetic state of affairs. I am so glad I left this country decades ago but am still ashamed when I have to call it country of my origin.

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Mustafa

Mar 26, 2015 07:28am

@Harmony; "Who cares what how the video came about? What we care is revelations" Because how the video came about has a bearing on the credibility of his allegations.

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Mustafa

Mar 26, 2015 07:35am

" interview, which was aired on private TV channels on the night of his execution, has changed the overall national political atmosphere of the country." It may have changed the atmosphere but it hasn't changed many minds. Most people who are "convinced" one way or the other are the ones who didn't need any convincing.

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Irshad Khan (CAN)

Mar 26, 2015 07:57am

Why is the committee dissolved, what our Government is trying to hide ?? Chief Justice should take a suo-moto action and order an investigation into the video recording of Saulat Mirza for the sake of Justice in the country and to find out the facts..

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Shahid

Mar 26, 2015 08:03am

This is a good reflection on the state of the rule of law in Pakistan. The securit establishment thought it could get some mileage out of it and the civilian government, including the President, couldn't say no. When it didn't turn out to be such a smart thing, they junked it along with Mr Mirza. And if they say no need to investigate the fiasco, who would dare to say no.

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Truth

Mar 26, 2015 08:21am

How the video was filmed is not the key issue. It is more important to know the truth and authenticity of the allegations levelled by SM against MQM's prominent leaders. SM didn't involve the ' boss' and others in the original prosecution because he was banking on them for their support for release or a mild sentence. New revelations involving Party chief and his stalwarts now demand further investigation in the case. Till then defer SM's execution. A haste in his execution will only help bury the truth and save the real perpetrators.

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tinker bell

Mar 27, 2015 08:24am

What is the haste in hanging him now that he has started making disclosures in national interest? Unfortunately it seems that interest of the country and common man is the least priority

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