KARACHI: The judicial commission investigating the death of businessman Mir Raza Ali on Tuesday ordered that a notice be issued to Sindh Home Minister Zia-ul-Hassan Lanjar following a tense exchange during the proceedings over the conduct of the provincial advocate general.
Mir Raza, an IBA graduate and businessman, was found dead in Karachi’s Gulistan-e-Jauhar on July 29, a day after he was reported missing on July 28. His father has consistently maintained that his son was murdered and has rejected the suggestion that the death was a suicide.
The latest proceedings came a day after the commission questioned several police officers about the handling of the investigation. It had also issued a notice to the head of the investigation team, DIG Amir Farooqi, over allegations that records related to the case had been withheld.
Commission Questions Delay in Sample Testing
During Tuesday’s hearing, Mir Raza’s father and sister appeared before the commission. Police Surgeon Dr Summaya Syed also attended and responded to questions from the inquiry body.
The issue of laboratory testing of samples collected from Raza’s body became a key point of discussion during the proceedings.
Family lawyer Jibran Nasir told the commission that samples taken from the deceased had been sent to the laboratory after a delay. The commission subsequently questioned whether such samples had a limited shelf life and whether the delay could potentially affect the accuracy of the test results.
Dr Summaya Syed told the commission that delays in testing did not generally affect results. However, she acknowledged that it could not be determined whether any chemical traces had been lost because of the delay.
She further said that such delays were not normally witnessed in high-profile cases, prompting the commission to examine the handling of the evidence more closely.
Exchange Over Questions During Hearing
The proceedings became tense when Sindh Advocate General objected to questions being put forward by Jibran Nasir, who is representing Mir Raza’s family.
The advocate general argued that questions should be asked directly by the commission rather than by the family’s lawyer.
The commission questioned the basis of the government’s objection and asked why the Sindh government was opposed to questions being raised on behalf of the deceased’s family.
Mir Raza Ali case: Judicial commission summons business partners, friends
During the exchange, the commission remarked, “Are you hiding something?”
The inquiry body subsequently decided that the Sindh home minister should be issued a notice and summoned in light of the advocate general’s conduct during the proceedings.
Investigation Under Scrutiny
The latest development adds another layer to the commission’s scrutiny of how the case has been investigated.
The commission had already questioned police officials about the handling of the investigation and raised concerns over allegations that certain records were not provided.
The questions surrounding the delayed laboratory testing have now also placed attention on the preservation and examination of samples collected from Raza’s body.
The commission has yet to determine the circumstances surrounding Mir Raza’s death. His family continues to maintain that he was murdered, while the investigation and inquiry proceedings remain ongoing.
Following the heated exchange over the questioning process, the commission suspended the hearing and directed that a formal notice be issued to Sindh Home Minister Zia-ul-Hassan Lanjar.
The minister’s appearance before the commission is expected to provide an opportunity for the provincial government to respond to the concerns raised during the proceedings, while the inquiry continues to examine the evidence and the conduct of officials involved in the case.
