- Mir Hussain alleges his son’s death is portrayed as suicide.
- Special police team intensifies probe into Mir Raza death.
- Investigators analyse mobile data and financial dealings.
KARACHI: A judicial magistrate’s court on Thursday approved a plea seeking the exhumation of deceased businessman Mir Raza Ali’s body for a fresh post-mortem examination, granting a request filed by his father, who has challenged the initial medical report and police investigation.
The court directed the Sindh health secretary to constitute a medical board for the exhumation and ordered that the process be carried out as soon as possible.
The court’s order comes after Mir Hussain, the victim’s father, announced his intention to seek another post-mortem, expressing dissatisfaction with the findings of the ongoing inquiry into his son’s death.
During the hearing, the prosecution informed the court that it had no objection to the exhumation request.
The petitioner’s counsel argued that the initial post-mortem report contained serious shortcomings and warranted a fresh examination. He told the court that no X-ray examination had been conducted and that the cause of death had not been properly determined.
The lawyer further claimed that the post-mortem report had been prepared on the basis of assumptions. He also argued that police could not object to the exhumation request, adding that the process would be carried out by the police surgeon and medico-legal officer.
The court had reserved its verdict earlier in the day before later approving the application.
On the night of July 28, Ali, an IBA graduate, returned home from his shop before leaving again, telling his family he would be back within 10 minutes. Police later recovered his body from bushes in Block 1 of Gulistan-e-Jauhar.
Father rejects suicide theory
Speaking to the media outside the City Courts today, Mir Hussain said the family was relying on reports to understand the direction of the investigation and questioned why different theories were being discussed.
“If my son was in debt, then the whole country is in debt,” he said while rejecting suggestions that financial difficulties could explain the circumstances surrounding the death.
He maintained that the family was alleging murder, while investigators appeared to be pursuing other angles. Hussain also questioned the absence of the doctor who conducted the initial post-mortem and said police had yet to record the family’s statement.
“We are already suffering and only want justice,” he said.
Earlier, Hussain had maintained that his son was murdered and alleged that attempts were being made to portray the death as a suicide. He claimed Ali’s face, body and fingerprints had been burned and alleged that he had been shot from behind.
Sindh IGP claims major progress
Separately, Sindh Inspector General of Police Javed Alam Odho said the investigation was continuing and claimed police had made significant progress in the case.
“We have traced the Mir Raza case and worked very hard on it,” he said, adding that police would soon hold a press conference to share details of the investigation.
Post-mortem findings
Investigative sources had earlier said an initial medical assessment found that Ali sustained a gunshot wound to the chest.
Preliminary findings also suggested that he had taken a security guard’s weapon before the incident.
According to the preliminary post-mortem report, the body was estimated to be 24 to 36 hours old at the time of examination.
Medico-legal sources said the bullet’s entry wound was larger than the exit wound, indicating it was fired from behind and exited through the front. They added that suspicious marks were found on Ali’s right hand, while injuries were also visible on his face.
Special investigation team formed
Earlier, Karachi Additional Inspector General of Police Azad Khan constituted a three-member special investigation team to probe the case and directed officers to submit daily progress reports.
The team, headed by Special Investigation Unit SSP Samiullah Soomro, includes District East SSP Zubair Nazir Sheikh and SP Muhammad Usman Saduzai. It has been tasked with examining all aspects of the case and identifying those responsible, The News reported.
Investigators have also obtained Ali’s mobile phone data record and forensic report. According to officials, the records suggest he owed money to several people and had sought a loan of Rs30 million from a friend on the night of July 28.
Officials said statements from 15 people, including a taxi driver and the individual who first reported the discovery of the body online, had been recorded.
