Mir Raza Murder Case: Sindh High Court Reserves Order on Family’s JIT Plea

The Sindh High Court has reserved its decision on whether to order a joint investigation team into the killing of Mir Raza Ali, a 25-year-old Karachi businessman whose family says the investigation has been compromised.

Ali disappeared on July 28 and was found dead the following month in Gulistan-i-Jauhar with a gunshot wound. His family challenged the provincial government’s decision to establish a judicial commission and asked the court to require a JIT instead. The government proceeded with the commission and appointed Justice Omar Sial to lead it.

“

A JIT will investigate the case from various angles while a commission can provide assistance in the investigation.

During Monday’s hearing, the family’s lawyer, Jibran Nasir, alleged that police had destroyed evidence, spread false information through the media and delayed recording statements. He also claimed that the crime scene had been set on fire while officers searched for a bullet. Nasir said no action had been taken against police officers who had allegedly damaged the case and tampered with evidence.

“

The crime scene was set on fire.

The Sindh advocate general said the commission’s role was to investigate negligence in the investigation. A state lawyer told the court that a JIT would investigate the case from various angles, while a commission could assist with the investigation. Nasir argued that the Supreme Court had previously allowed JITs in cases involving administrative sabotage.

He also criticized the commission because it would rely on the same team that had failed to trace suspects after a month. The case had already led to the exhumation of Ali’s body for a second autopsy after the Karachi police surgeon identified gaps in the first post-mortem report.

“

There is sabotage at the highest level of the police in this case.