Death row convict accuses MQM chief in a video from jail

A former worker of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement, due to be hanged tomorrow for target killings, has accused party chief Altaf Hussain and other senior members for ordering murders.
"They throw us away like tissue paper after using us and I am not seeking mercy, I just want my execution to be differed so that I can speak the truth," Saulat Mirza said in a video message from his cell in Machh jail in Balochistan province.
The video message aired by all channels late tonight was expected to cause more tension and fear in the city of Karachi where the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) has ruled since the last two decades.

The video message came just as the MQM celebrated the 31st anniversary of its formation with thousands of workers thronging to the party headquarters in the Azizabad area of Karachi to listen to their leader's telephonic address from London.
The celebrations came just a week after the paramilitary rangers raided the MQM headquarters and arrested several target killers from there while recovering a large cache of weapons and ammunition.
Mirza has been on the death sentence since 1999 for the killings of then Karachi Electric Supply Company (KESC) Chief Shahid Hamid, his guard and driver in 1998.

The former MQM worker, who rose quickly in the ranks of the party, has now been disowned by the MQM chief Altaf Hussain who says Mirza was expelled from the party years ago.

"Altaf Hussain ordered the killing of former MQM leader, Azeem Tariq," Mirza claimed.
"Myself and four others were called to the residence of MQM former Senator, Babar Ghouri where Altaf Hussain told us on telephone that we had to kill the KESC MD. Ghouri used to pass on orders from Altaf Hussain to us," Mirza said.
"Many of the MQM leaders are involved in criminal activities and the Governor of Sindh provides them protection," he claimed.
"The Pakistan Peoples Party has also facilitated us in jails," he said.
Mirza said he wanted to apologise to the nation for his deeds and wanted to tell all MQM supporters to open their eyes to the deeds of Altaf and other leaders.

A political analyst said while the allegations by Mirza were serious and damaging for the MQM, the question arises how and why a death row prisoner was allowed to record a video message which has been aired just hours before his execution.
"One has to see what is the purpose behind releasing this video message now. How did a death row prisoner get permission to record a video message. But the MQM certainly has to come out with a convincing reply to these allegations," he said.