KARACHI: In an emergency press conference held Thursday night, the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) dismissed the allegations levelled by death-row inmate Saulat Mirza.

The party representative Senator Farogh Naseem said the decision to air Mirza's video statement has set a bad precedent and turned in illegal.

“We are setting a bad precedent of criminal jurisprudence in the country,” said Senator Naseem, while calling the eleventh hour confession by the infamous killer a mockery of law. “Mirza should have given these statements 25 years back.”

Flanked by Barrister Saif, Naseem said that even if the government does not like the MQM, it should operate under the law.

The MQM leader said “this is a serious offense against the country’s legal procedure. All this doesn’t hold any legal value”. He went on to say that according to law, once a crime has been accepted before the court, it cannot be taken back.

Also read: Killed KESC chief on Altaf Hussain's orders, Saulat Mirza claims

Earlier Saulat Mirza, in a video statement aired on different media outlets on Wednesday, hurled startling allegations on MQM and its top leadership, just a few hours before his execution was scheduled to take place on Thursday at 5:30AM.

Mirza's execution has now been postponed for 72 hours.

Mirza said he was an MQM worker and received direct orders from MQM leader Babar Ghauri to assassinate KESC chief Shahid Hamid.

“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,” alleged Saulat Mirza.

While commenting on Mirza's statement, MQM Chief Altaf Hussain said, "Without any proof or evidence, Saulat Mirza's statement will not have any effect on the party."

Hussain termed the allegations a conspiracy against MQM.