The investigation into the death of young businessman Mir Raza Ali has taken a crucial turn following a chemical analysis that detected gunshot residue (GSR) on both his hands. This discovery raises the possibility that he may have discharged a firearm shortly before his death.
The findings emerged from a detailed chemical examination of samples collected during the exhumation of Raza’s body. The University of Karachi’s Chemical Examination Laboratory completed its analysis and submitted the report to police authorities. Investigators collected 13 samples during the exhumation, but only five have yielded usable results due to decomposition affecting the remainder.
Authorities consider the presence of GSR on both hands a significant forensic clue, suggesting Raza might have fired a weapon prior to being shot. However, officials caution that the residue alone does not clarify how the shooting transpired or definitively prove whether Raza fired at someone, acted in self-defense, or merely handled a firearm.
Consequently, investigators are evaluating these new findings alongside the medico-legal examination, ballistic data, crime scene evidence, and other relevant materials before drawing conclusions.
Notably, GSR was also found on Raza’s back and chest, with a higher concentration detected on his back. This aspect is being analyzed in conjunction with the bullet’s trajectory, which preliminary medico-legal assessments indicated entered from the rear and exited through the chest. The chemical results are now being compared with this trajectory and other forensic evidence to determine the positions of Raza, the shooter, and the firearm at the time of the incident.
Earlier post-mortem evaluations raised questions about the path and nature of the gunshot wound, which reportedly involved entry from the back and exit through the front.
In a significant development, the detection of GSR on both hands has led investigators to explore the possibility that Raza may have fired in self-defense if he perceived a threat before being shot. This remains a hypothesis under investigation rather than a confirmed fact.
Authorities are working to establish whether the GSR on Raza’s hands is consistent with firing a weapon and, if so, whether the physical evidence can clarify the circumstances of discharge. They are also comparing these chemical findings with ballistic evidence, including a spent cartridge casing recovered from the scene, which aligns with the bullet’s projected trajectory relative to Raza’s position.
The location of the firearm believed to be involved and its connection to the recovered casing remain vital aspects of the ongoing inquiry.
The forensic developments followed serious doubts about the initial medico-legal examination of Raza’s body. The 25-year-old IBA graduate and owner of the Wafflix dessert business went missing on July 28 after leaving his Karachi home. His body was found the next day in bushes near Shahi Qila in Gulistan-e-Jauhar, bearing a gunshot wound.
Raza’s family alleged kidnapping, torture, and murder, while investigators considered multiple scenarios. The case took a dramatic turn when Karachi Police Surgeon Dr. Summaiya Syed highlighted inconsistencies in the original post-mortem report, particularly regarding entry and exit wounds, bullet trajectory, and the absence of hand swab samples for GSR testing.
Following these concerns, the family requested exhumation and a fresh medico-legal examination. A Karachi court approved this and ordered the formation of a medico-legal board to conduct a comprehensive reassessment, including post-mortem, X-ray, DNA, forensic, and chemical analyses.
During the exhumation, 13 samples were collected for chemical testing, with only five providing results due to decomposition. The detection of GSR on Raza’s hands is considered one of the most significant findings from this renewed examination, as such samples were not taken during the initial post-mortem.
Despite this, the presence of GSR does not by itself prove that Raza fired the fatal shot. Gunshot residue is a critical element in firearm investigations but must be corroborated with ballistic, medico-legal, crime scene, and other forensic evidence to reconstruct events accurately.
The investigation has expanded beyond the initial discovery circumstances, with a special team led by SSP Special Investigation Unit Samiullah Soomro and supported by SSP East and SP Investigation East-I. They are reviewing CCTV footage, digital data, Raza’s movements prior to death, and evidence from the crime scene. The online taxi driver who transported Raza after he left his home has also been questioned to piece together his final hours.
The recovery of the spent cartridge casing has added a crucial physical evidence trail, which, combined with the GSR findings, bullet trajectory, wound analysis, and firearm-related evidence, may enable a more precise reconstruction of the shooting.
Despite these advances, investigators have yet to finalize conclusions regarding the circumstances of Raza’s death. The presence of GSR on his hands suggests he may have fired a weapon, but the context in which the residue was deposited and its consistency with other forensic data remain under examination.
Similarly, the GSR found on his back and chest, alongside bullet trajectory findings, require further expert analysis before a definitive narrative can be established. Thus, the probe continues to rely on multiple evidence strands rather than any single forensic outcome.
Nonetheless, the latest report has introduced a significant new dimension to a case already under scrutiny due to questions about the original post-mortem examination.
