The Sindh government has written to the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), Intelligence Bureau (IB), National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) and Sindh Rangers, requesting nominations for a joint investigation team (JIT) to probe the murder of businessman Mir Raza Ali, it emerged on Saturday.
The 25-year-old businessman went missing on July 28 after leaving his home in Karachi’s PECHS area. His body, bearing a gunshot wound, was found in bushes in Gulistan-i-Jauhar the following day.
In its 62-page report submitted to the provincial government on October 15, a judicial commission recommended forming a JIT, describing it as the “most viable path” to address concerns over the investigation and mitigate reputational damage to the Sindh government.
Sindh High Court judge Justice Omar Sial, who headed the single-member commission, recommended including senior representatives of the ISI, IB, Sindh Rangers and NCCIA to ensure an “impartial, comprehensive, and credible resolution” of the case.
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The commission also recommended that West Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) Irfan Baloch lead the investigation team.
Acting on the recommendations, Sindh Home Minister Ziaul Hassan Lanjar announced on Thursday that the JIT would be formed under DIG Baloch and that a summary had been sent to the chief minister.
The letters, dated October 23 and issued through the Sindh Home Department, requested the four agencies to nominate senior officers of at least BS-18 rank to serve on the JIT.
The authorities were asked to submit their nominations within seven days to enable the team to begin its work.
In its letter to the NCCIA, the Home Department specifically requested an officer with expertise in digital forensics, citing the need to examine mobile phones, Apple Watch data, iCloud accounts, social media activity and cryptocurrency records, including those associated with Binance.
Government Seeks Action Against Police Officers
Separately, the Sindh Home Department has written to the provincial inspector general of police (IGP), asking him to take action against police officials whom the judicial commission found responsible for negligence in the investigation.
“This case demonstrates an epic failure by the police in their investigation,” the commission stated in its report.
The report said police had breached required procedures, knowingly or unknowingly, undermining the investigation’s ability to withstand judicial scrutiny and support a successful prosecution.
It concluded that the investigation had “failed in its most basic duty: to establish the truth”.
The commission said the possibility of an active cover-up during the initial stages of the investigation could not be conclusively ruled out. It also criticised senior police officers for failing to acknowledge or address investigative shortcomings.
“Dozens of police officers – authorised and unauthorised – were involved in collecting evidence in this case, approaching and interrogating crucial persons, and in most cases not documenting it in any manner,” the report stated.
According to the commission, the lack of documentation contributed to a situation in which no officer was willing to accept responsibility for the lapses.
The judicial panel identified what it described as “criminal negligence” by Ferozabad police station Station House Officer Adeel Afzal.
It also found criminal negligence on the part of Sub-Inspector Shabbir Leghari, the first investigating officer in the case, and recommended disciplinary proceedings and his suspension.
Medico-Legal Officer Dr Osama Sheikh to Be Suspended
The commission also criticised medico-legal officer Dr Osama Sheikh over his handling of the initial medico-legal examination, whose findings were subsequently found to be incorrect following a second autopsy.
Describing his conduct as involving “extreme immaturity” and “childish behaviour”, the commission questioned his professional competence and recommended that he not be assigned medico-legal duties until he had completed at least two years of rigorous academic and practical training.
The Sindh government subsequently wrote to the provincial health secretary, conveying the decision of a sub-committee established to implement the commission’s recommendations.
Under the decision, Dr Sheikh would be suspended and face proceedings under the Efficiency and Discipline (E&D) Rules. He would also be sent for the training recommended by the commission.
Sindh Government Seeks FIA-Led Committee
The judicial commission acknowledged that it lacked investigative powers and could not conclusively determine whether an active cover-up had taken place.
However, it noted that certain actions during the investigation were difficult to explain and raised the possibility that a cover-up may have occurred.
The commission recommended establishing a high-level committee, preferably headed by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), to initiate criminal proceedings against police officials found culpable.
Following this recommendation, the Sindh government wrote to the federal Ministry of Interior, requesting the FIA to nominate a senior officer of at least BS-20 rank with investigative expertise to head the committee.
Under the proposed arrangement, DIG Irfan Baloch and Special Branch DIG Naeem Ahmed Sheikh would serve as members.
Committee to Examine Police Officers’ Performance
The provincial government has also notified a one-member committee comprising Additional Inspector General of Police for the Counterterrorism Department (CTD) Sindh, Zulfiqar Ali Larik, to examine the police officers named in the judicial commission’s report. DIG Baloch will assist the committee.
According to the notification, the committee has been assigned four key responsibilities:
- Examine each officer or official named in the commission’s report and assess their leadership qualities and efficiency in light of the specific observations recorded against them.
- Evaluate their overall policing performance.
- Further investigate Inspector Ghaus’s role in the burning of the crime scene.
- Submit a report containing findings and recommendations for each officer or official to the Sindh IGP.
The measures follow the commission’s critical assessment of the investigation into Mir Raza Ali’s murder and are intended to establish accountability for alleged procedural failures while supporting further investigation into the circumstances surrounding his death.
