KARACHI: A judicial commission investigating the death of businessman Mir Raza Ali has concluded that he was murdered and sharply criticised police for serious investigative failures, recommending a new probe involving federal intelligence and law enforcement agencies.
The 62-page report, prepared by Sindh High Court Justice Omar Sial, described the police investigation as deeply flawed, citing procedural violations, poor supervision and failures in evidence collection and documentation.
The commission found that forensic and medical evidence contradicted the initial theory of suicide. It highlighted the bullet’s trajectory, the location of the wound, evidence of acid burns and the presence of anaesthesia in the victim’s blood as factors inconsistent with suicide.
The report also criticised police for prematurely presenting their initial findings before completing a thorough investigation. It said investigators had failed to establish the facts despite the seriousness of the case and the public concern surrounding it.
Although the commission said an active cover-up could not be conclusively established, it noted that certain actions by officials raised questions that could not be adequately explained. It also found that numerous officers had handled evidence and questioned key individuals without properly documenting their actions, making accountability difficult.
Commission recommends multi-agency JIT
To restore public confidence and establish responsibility, the commission recommended forming a joint investigation team (JIT) led by Deputy Inspector General Irfan Baloch. The proposed team would include senior representatives from the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), Intelligence Bureau (IB), Pakistan Rangers (Sindh) and National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA).
The report also recommended a separate high-level inquiry, preferably led by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), to examine whether police personnel involved in the initial investigation may have violated legal provisions concerning the concealment of evidence, unlawful conduct by public servants or the preparation of incorrect official records.
It further called for formal departmental inquiries against officers responsible for investigative lapses, a public acknowledgement of past failures and reforms to modernise police procedures for crime-scene management, forensic evidence handling and investigation records.
Sindh government moves to implement findings
The Sindh cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah, decided on Tuesday to make the commission’s report public. The provincial government also formed a four-member subcommittee to oversee implementation of its recommendations.
The committee comprises Home Minister Ziaul Hassan Lanjar, Local Government Minister Nasir Hussain Shah, Labour Minister Saeed Ghani and the provincial advocate general.
Mir Raza, a 25-year-old businessman and Institute of Business Administration graduate, went missing on July 28 after leaving his home in Karachi’s PECHS area. His body, bearing a gunshot wound, was discovered the following day in bushes in Gulistan-i-Jauhar.
Police initially considered suicide based on the first post-mortem examination. However, a subsequent examination following exhumation found the original findings inconsistent with suicide and concluded that the fatal injury was caused by a gunshot wound to the back.
The judicial commission held 15 hearings and examined 49 witnesses before submitting its findings to the provincial government.
