Mir Raza commission to quiz senior police officers in writing; IO summoned for October 5
Mir Raza commission to quiz senior police officers in writing; IO summoned for October 5
The Mir Raza commission investigating the death of Karachi businessman Mir Raza Ali has decided to send written questionnaires to senior police officers and summoned the case’s investigation officer for October 5, as the probe moves into a decisive phase.
The one-member Mir Raza commission, headed by Sindh High Court’s Justice Omar Sial, took the decisions at a meeting held at his chamber this week. The Sindh government’s focal person and Additional Home Secretary Javed Abro attended the meeting and briefed the commission on the extension of its tenure.
Abro informed Justice Sial that the Sindh cabinet had extended the commission’s term, and said the panel could continue its proceedings without seeking fresh cabinet approval if it needed more time beyond the new deadline. A formal notification of the extension is expected shortly.
The commission’s registrar told the meeting that written questionnaires would be sent to senior police officers through judicial assistant Tajammul Lodhi, who is assisting the commission in the case.
The commission also summoned investigation officer DSP Siraj Lashari to appear before it on October 5.
Written questions, not personal appearance
The move to question senior officers in writing follows the commission’s earlier written order in which it turned down a request by Raza’s family to summon senior police officers for personal appearance. In that order, the commission instead recorded the statements of the Secretary Health, the Director General Health and SSP Dr Samiullah Soomro.
The Mir Raza commission had previously also decided to send a questionnaire to Additional Inspector General Azad Khan and DIG Amir Farooqui, observing that the replies of the high-ranking police officials would be made public.
Mir Raza commission: a case full of unanswered questions
The commission is examining the circumstances of Raza’s death and whether the police investigation was conducted impartially and in line with the law. Its terms of reference include determining whether any police, medico-legal or other officials were negligent, committed professional misconduct, suppressed or manipulated evidence, or took part in any cover-up.
Over the past weeks, the commission has pulled up several officials. It questioned the abrupt transfer of the health department’s director general a day after he recorded his statement, and took exception to the unauthorised role of an assistant superintendent of police in handling audio evidence. It also noted that the crime scene had been burnt, allegedly to recover an empty bullet casing, and observed that such a step was not normal protocol.
The panel has also questioned how witness statements were recorded, noting that 23 of 33 statements were recorded by individuals other than the designated investigation officer, who later signed them.
Background of the case
Mir Raza Ali, 25, an IBA graduate and owner of the dessert shop Wafflix, went missing on July 28. His body was found a day later in Karachi’s Gulistan-e-Jauhar area.
Police initially treated the death as a possible suicide, but a second postmortem examination, conducted after the body was exhumed, found that Raza had been shot. The medical report also recorded marks of violence on the body, including a deep injury and fracture in the jaw area.
Following the findings, a murder charge was added to the case. The Sindh government then formed the judicial commission headed by Justice Sial to conduct a transparent inquiry. The commission’s original term expired on September 27, and the provincial cabinet extended it until October 15.
When will the investigation officer appear before the commission?
IO DSP Siraj Lashari has been summoned to appear before the commission on October 5.
Will senior police officers appear before the commission in person?
No. The commission will send them written questionnaires through judicial assistant Tajammul Lodhi. An earlier request by the family for senior officers to appear in person was declined in a written order.
How long does the commission have to finish its work?
Its tenure was extended until October 15. The Sindh government’s focal person told the commission it could continue beyond that date without seeking fresh cabinet approval if more time was needed.
