The judicial commission tasked with investigating the death of young businessman Mir Raza Ali concluded its proceedings on Wednesday after extensively questioning the police investigation team and a representative from the Citizens-Police Liaison Committee (CPLC). The commission highlighted significant gaps in the probe, including issues related to evidence handling and several leads that remain unexplored.
Led by Sindh High Court Justice Omar Sial, the commission will now compile its findings and recommendations to submit a detailed report to the Sindh government. The inquiry involved thorough questioning of CPLC representative Kashif and investigation officer DSP Siraj Lashari about various aspects such as geofencing, call data records, CCTV footage, suspicious vehicles, witness statements, forensic evidence, and crypto transactions.
Constituted on August 24 by the Sindh government to scrutinize the circumstances surrounding Mir Raza’s death and potential negligence in the investigation, the commission’s tenure was extended until October 15 to ensure a comprehensive review.
During the proceedings, Justice Sial probed the CPLC’s role in the case, particularly their analysis of call data records and geofencing. Kashif explained that the CPLC had been involved from the beginning, analyzing data provided by the police. Geofencing covering July 28 and 29 revealed no suspicious activity. Mir Raza’s phone remained connected to the internet until approximately 4:25am, with Apple Maps accessed between 4:10am and 4:20am. There were no outgoing conventional calls from his phone, though contact with an online taxi driver was recorded around 4:07am. Kashif noted that internet-based calls do not generate traditional call records. The police had also reached out to the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency and Apple for information linked to IP addresses.
The commission further questioned the CPLC about CCTV footage collected from the vicinity. Kashif stated that while the CPLC operates 46 cameras in parts of Gulistan-i-Jauhar, the incident location was slightly outside this coverage, with Mir Raza appearing on only three cameras. Investigators had reviewed private CCTV footage as well, but much was of poor quality or lacked proper backups. The commission observed suspicious vehicles in the footage and questioned whether police had adequately investigated them. Kashif confirmed ongoing efforts to identify vehicles using tracker information and geofencing data, though clear vehicle registration numbers were difficult to obtain from the footage.
Concerns were also raised about missing CCTV footage from Masjid Khizra, where approximately five hours of surveillance were unavailable due to an outdated system.
DSP Siraj Lashari was questioned about the recording and handling of witness statements under Section 161 of the Code of Criminal Procedure. Justice Sial noted discrepancies where several witnesses denied parts of statements attributed to them by the previous investigation team. The commission questioned whether statements had been properly read back to witnesses and why many focused predominantly on financial transactions rather than other potential motives or circumstances surrounding Mir Raza’s death. Lashari maintained that all relevant aspects were being investigated, including the possibility of murder.
Particular scrutiny was directed at witness Ali Shah, including his recent travel abroad, the arrival of his brother in Karachi, and alleged links to vehicles resembling suspicious ones identified in the investigation. Justice Sial questioned why these matters were not adequately addressed in Ali Shah’s Section 161 statement. Lashari stated that no connection had been found between Ali Shah and the incident, nor evidence placing him at the scene. However, the commission questioned whether investigators had sufficiently examined a voice note implicating Ali Shah and his subsequent trip to Baku. Lashari indicated that Ali Shah and others could be summoned again if necessary.
The commission expressed serious concerns about the handling of the crime scene and evidence. Justice Sial questioned the involvement of both operations and investigation police, noting that the crime scene appeared compromised despite assurances regarding the crime scene unit’s response time. The commission also questioned why officers responsible for lapses had not faced disciplinary action. Issues were raised about the use of mobile phone footage sent by a Station House Officer and the handling of a guesthouse DVR reportedly found in an officer’s vehicle boot. The commission criticized senior police officers for inadequate supervision and questioned why procedural violations had not led to stronger departmental measures.
Regarding Mir Raza’s Apple Watch and mobile phone, Lashari reported that a forensic analysis of the Apple Watch received in September showed the last activity at about 4:22am. Investigators were unable to recover data from the mobile phone and had sought further information from Apple. The family lawyer questioned whether access to the device and iCloud had been examined after Mir Raza’s disappearance, especially since the phone was reportedly used with a different SIM. Mir Raza’s mother informed the commission that repeated attempts to access the phone had resulted in it becoming blocked.
The commission also addressed the leak of private conversations between Mir Raza and his fiancée, Salwa, on social media. Lashari confirmed that police had seized the fiancée’s phone and extracted private chats. Justice Sial questioned how this material reached the media and directed the investigation officer to identify those responsible for the leak. The commission noted that the couple were to be married and stated that unauthorized disclosure of their private conversations could constitute a criminal offense.
Additional questions were raised about a suspicious vehicle near Mir Raza’s home and another seen on CCTV footage. Lashari said police had traced one vehicle and received an explanation from the owner, who claimed he parked there due to lack of parking space. Justice Sial noted that the vehicle appeared to move quickly behind Mir Raza’s car rather than simply being parked. The commission also inquired about traces of anesthesia found in the case and whether investigators had explored possible links between witnesses and dental professionals.
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