The family of Karachi entrepreneur Mir Raza Ali on Monday approached the Sindh High Court to seek the formation of a joint investigation team (JIT) to investigate his alleged murder, naming the Sindh government and others as respondents.
Ali was found dead in Karachi’s Gulistan-e-Jauhar area a day after he went missing on July 28. His father has consistently maintained his son was murdered, rejecting suggestions the death was suicide.
Speaking with media in Karachi, lawyer Jibran Nasir said the family had also written to Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah regarding the JIT. “There should be a question as to why the evidence was destroyed,” he said, noting no action had been taken against the relevant officials as yet.
He said the family had learnt about the Sindh government’s decision to form a judicial commission through the media, adding its findings would not form part of the challan report. “The narrative of suicide was created by selectively releasing CCTV footage at will,” he alleged, adding this was not provided to the family.
He also questioned why authorities were saying the cameras covering the area of the alleged murder were faulty after 25 days. “After 25 days, they are now saying the cameras are faulty,” he said, adding the vehicles visible in the CCTV footage had not been investigated.
A day earlier, a spokesperson for the Sindh chief minister had said the provincial cabinet had decided to form a judicial commission to investigate the death of the young businessman. “After carefully considering the concerns expressed by the family, the Government of Sindh has decided to request the honorable Chief Justice of the Sindh High Court to establish a Judicial Commission to conduct an impartial and transparent inquiry,” they said.
According to the spokesperson, the commission would conduct an impartial and transparent inquiry into the case, examining whether the investigation had been carried out fairly and in accordance with the law, while also identifying any investigative angles or evidence requiring further examination.