KARACHI: A chemical examination report in the murder case of Karachi businessman Mir Raza Ali has found traces of acid on his shirt, along with evidence suggesting he was subjected to torture, according to a copy of the report obtained by Geo News.
The report also identified two bullet holes in the shirt, with one on the back and a larger hole on the front.
According to the chemical examination, efforts were allegedly made to conceal the victim’s identity. The report further stated that no fingerprints were found on Mir Raza’s hands.
Chemical analysis of the shirt detected acid particles as well as elements associated with gunshot residue.
A copy of the deceased’s chemical examination and DNA reports has also been obtained as investigators continue probing the case.
Taxi driver recalls Mir Raza’s final journey
An online cab driver who transported Mir Raza told Geo News that the deceased booked the ride at around 3:57am.
“I accepted his ride. […] At 4:07am, I called him. I said, ‘Brother, we have reached your location, please come down,'” the driver, Ehsanullah, said.
He said he started the ride at around 4:09am and described Mir Raza as calm during the journey.
“He played music of his own choice; he was very calm, very happy. He said, ‘Disregard the location, I will tell you the route. Follow the route I tell you,'” the driver recalled.
According to Ehsanullah, he dropped Mir Raza near a slightly elevated ramp in the Gulistan-e-Jauhar area.
Lawyer raises questions over acid burns
Lawyer Jibran Nasir, speaking alongside Mir Raza’s family at a press conference in Karachi, said CCTV footage showing the deceased emerged on July 28, while his body was recovered the following day.
Nasir said reports indicated a gunshot mark on the back of Mir Raza’s shirt and confirmed that acid traces were also detected.
He claimed that the victim’s face had not been damaged because of decomposition but because of acid burns.
According to Nasir, the body appeared to be between 20 and 22 hours old, raising the possibility that Mir Raza may have remained in captivity for up to 12 hours.
The lawyer also raised questions about the handling of the victim’s belongings and evidence during the initial investigation.
He said Mir Raza’s smartwatch was taken from the family on the third day of the funeral rites, while the guesthouse’s DVR was allegedly moved around by the SHO.
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The victim’s mobile phone was reportedly sent to the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD).
Nasir further claimed that the suspected killers may have known the locations where CCTV cameras were not installed and that Mir Raza’s mobile phone could have been hacked.
He said bottles allegedly containing acid were found near the Water Board office and that the family had informed police about them.
Family hopes for progress in investigation
Nasir said the family had helped investigators identify several locations linked to the case and was cooperating with the newly constituted probe team.
He said Mir Raza’s parents were ready to answer investigators’ questions and were awaiting forensic findings, including reports based on samples collected during the post-mortem examination and exhumation.
Mir Raza’s father, Mir Hussain, said it was the first time in nearly two weeks that he felt the investigation was moving in the right direction.
He expressed confidence in the new investigation team and said the family wanted the case to reach its logical conclusion.
Hussain said the family had already provided police with information about three suspicious individuals and would continue pursuing legal avenues to establish what happened to his son.
He also alleged that the previous investigation team had not shared its findings with the family.
Investigation faces questions over alleged lapses
Fresh details have also emerged regarding alleged shortcomings in the initial investigation.
Investigative authorities reportedly confirmed that geofencing of the crime scene had not been conducted despite several days having passed since the incident.
The mobile data record of the deceased had also reportedly not been obtained, while forensic examination of his smartwatch had yet to be conducted.
The new investigation team said geofencing would be carried out and that mobile data records were being obtained.
Investigators have also collected details regarding a suspected guesthouse and contacted the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA).
A formal application is expected to be submitted to determine whether Mir Raza had received or faced any threats before his death.
