KARACHI: The lawyer and family members of Mir Raza Ali on Monday welcomed the formation of a new investigation team in the murder case, saying they were hopeful that the probe would now move towards establishing the circumstances surrounding his death and provide justice to the family.
Speaking to the media after meeting the newly constituted investigation team, lawyer Jibran Nasir said that it was the first time that Mir Raza’s family had been given an opportunity to present their complete position and concerns to the investigators without any hindrance.
Nasir said that the family had provided the new team with detailed information about the case, including the identities of suspected individuals and the points they believed required further investigation.
“The new investigation team noted down all the information and concerns of the parents in detail,” he said, adding that the family had also responded to the questions raised by the investigators.
He welcomed the formation of the new team, saying the government had now acknowledged that the matter should be investigated as a murder rather than continuing to insist on the earlier suicide theory.
Nasir said the previous investigation team’s insistence that Mir Raza had died by suicide had damaged its credibility.
“We welcome the formation of the new investigation team in the Mir Raza murder case,” he said.
He added that the family had demanded a team comprising officers with a good professional reputation and expressed satisfaction that the new team had been constituted for the purpose of conducting a fresh investigation.
Questions over forensic samples
Nasir also raised questions about the reported failure to deliver DNA and other forensic samples to the forensic laboratory.
He said that the samples had been handed over by the previous investigation officer, but had apparently not reached the forensic laboratory.
“The samples were handed over by the previous IO. The officials concerned will have to explain why they did not reach the forensic laboratory,” Nasir said.
He described the reported delay as alarming and said it was difficult to understand why the samples had not been delivered to the laboratory in a timely manner.
Nasir said the officers responsible for the investigation would have to explain the delay and that serious consequences could follow if negligence in the preservation or handling of forensic material was established.
“If negligence is proved in the preservation of forensic samples, there could be serious consequences,” he said.
He stressed that no negligence or bad faith would be tolerated in the investigation.
Family opts to give new team opportunity
Nasir said that the family was currently not seeking a judicial commission or judicial inquiry, arguing that the police had the constitutional and legal responsibility to investigate the case.
He said the family had also written to the Sindh High Court chief justice to convey its position.
“We have complete confidence in the judiciary,” Nasir said, adding that investigation was primarily a responsibility of the police under the law.
He said the government had deferred its decision to constitute a judicial commission and that, at this stage, the family wanted to give the newly formed investigation team an opportunity to conduct its work.
Nasir cautioned, however, that the family would approach the court if the new team failed to make meaningful progress.
He also argued that a commission’s report did not carry the same legal status as investigative evidence collected through a criminal investigation.
According to Nasir, the direction of the investigation should become clearer within the next three to four days.
He said police had been informed about all suspected individuals and important aspects of the case that required examination.
Initial suicide theory questioned
Mir Raza Ali reportedly went missing on July 28 after leaving his home. His body was recovered the following day near Gulistan-e-Jauhar.
The case initially came to be associated with a possible suicide theory, with financial losses, debt and monetary disputes cited as possible reasons. An alleged audio recording also surfaced in connection with money reportedly owed.
However, the family rejected the suicide theory and expressed doubts about the circumstances surrounding Mir Raza’s death.
Following the family’s objections and concerns over the investigation, the matter took a significant turn when the court ordered the exhumation of Mir Raza’s body from Tariq Road graveyard under the supervision of a medical board.
A subsequent post-mortem examination reported that Mir Raza had sustained a gunshot wound from behind and that there were signs of injuries on his body.
The findings prompted further questions over the initial characterisation of the death and strengthened the family’s demand for a murder investigation.
Nasir said the new investigation team would now have to examine all aspects of the case, including the forensic evidence and the circumstances surrounding the death.
Father expresses cautious optimism
Mir Raza’s father, Mir Hussain, also spoke to the media and said he was somewhat reassured by the progress made during Monday’s proceedings.
“We are satisfied to some extent with today’s progress in the Mir Raza case,” he said.
He said the family had now given its complete position to the new investigation team and answered the questions put to them by the investigators.
Hussain said he believed the case had entered an important stage and expressed hope that his son would receive justice.
“If the facts had emerged earlier, perhaps there would have been no need for an exhumation,” he said.
He said the family wanted to give the new investigation team sufficient opportunity to proceed with the inquiry and determine the facts.
“The new investigation team should be given a chance to take the investigation forward,” Hussain said.
He added that the team was being given full opportunity to conduct its work and that the family would wait for its findings before reaching any final conclusion.
“It is too early to give a final opinion at this stage,” he said.
Hussain said the family expected the investigation to produce significant developments over the next three to four days.
“We want justice,” he said, adding that the investigation must be taken to its logical conclusion to ensure that those responsible, if any, are identified and dealt with according to law.
Medical board formed on court’s order
Responding to questions about the post-mortem and exhumation process, Hussain clarified that the medical board was not constituted independently by the police surgeon but was formed following a court order.
The clarification came amid the family’s continuing concerns about the handling of the case and the forensic evidence.
Nasir said the family had previously sought a transparent investigation by officers with a credible professional record and believed the formation of the new team was an important step.
He said the family would continue to monitor the investigation closely but would allow the new team to perform its legal responsibilities.
“If the new investigation team fails, we will approach the court,” Nasir said.
For now, the family has opted to place its confidence in the fresh police investigation rather than immediately seek a judicial commission, while keeping legal recourse open if the probe does not produce satisfactory results.
The reported delay in sending forensic samples to the laboratory, however, remains a key concern for the family and investigators and could become an important aspect of the renewed probe.
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