The investigation into businessman Mir Raza Ali’s death took a contentious turn on Friday when authorities replaced the judicial medical board tasked with exhuming his body and conducting a second post-mortem. This move triggered strong opposition from Ali’s family and legal representatives, who threatened to halt the procedure.
Earlier that day, a judicial magistrate had authorized the exhumation and instructed Sindh health authorities to organize a fresh medico-legal examination following concerns raised by Ali’s father about the initial post-mortem report and the police inquiry.
an official notification, the original eight-member medical board was replaced overnight by a five-member panel. Karachi Police Surgeon Dr. Sumaiyya Syed remains the convener, but all other members were substituted. The new board comprises Prof. Dr. Zakiuddin, head of forensic medicine at Dow University of Health Sciences; Prof. Dr. Qazi Akbar from Liaquat University, Jamshoro; Dr. Abid Hussain Chang, a pathologist; and Hyderabad Police Surgeon Dr. Waseem.
Ali’s family expressed serious reservations about the sudden replacement, questioning the rationale behind altering the board so abruptly. Their lawyer, Jibran Nasir, criticized the change as unjustified, noting that the original panel had been established only the previous day. He stated the family would challenge the latest notification in court and emphasized that they would not permit the exhumation if any member of the original board was excluded.
Nasir also questioned the inclusion of specialists from other cities while removing Karachi-based doctors, highlighting the lack of explanation for these decisions. Ali’s father, Mir Hussain, accused the overnight changes of confirming suspicions that influential individuals might be implicated in his son’s death. He reiterated the family’s long-held belief that Ali was murdered, pointing out visible injuries on his son’s head and missing skin from both palms observed before burial.
Meanwhile, new photographs reportedly depicting Ali’s clothing and body have surfaced, raising further questions about the circumstances of his death. The images show what appears to be a bullet hole in Ali’s shirt with torn threads surrounding it. The initial post-mortem had indicated the bullet entered through the chest and exited the back. Additional photos reveal marks resembling injuries on one foot and bruises along the ribs on the right side of the body.
The fresh forensic examination was ordered after Ali’s father contested the initial post-mortem findings, citing significant deficiencies. His legal counsel informed the court that no X-ray had been performed and the cause of death was not conclusively established. The prosecution did not oppose the request, leading the judicial magistrate to direct the Sindh health secretary to form a medical board and expedite the exhumation.
Ali, an IBA graduate, vanished after leaving home on the night of July 28, telling his family he would return within ten minutes. His body was later discovered in bushes in Karachi’s Gulistan-e-Jauhar area, with the circumstances of his death still under investigation.
In line with the court’s directive, Police Surgeon Dr. Sumaiyya Syed confirmed the formation of a medical board for a renewed post-mortem. She stated that Ali’s grave would be exhumed at 9 a.m. on Friday, with various samples collected from the body before it is reburied immediately. She added that police had been instructed to seal the post-mortem site.
Speaking outside the City Courts, Mir Hussain said the family relied on reports to gauge the investigation’s progress but was puzzled by conflicting theories. Rejecting claims that financial difficulties explained the death, he stated, “If my son was in debt, then the whole country is in debt.” He maintained the family’s stance that Ali was murdered, while investigators appeared to be exploring alternate angles. Hussain also noted 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 affirmed.
Previously, Hussain alleged that Ali’s death was a murder attempt disguised as suicide. He claimed Ali’s face, body, and fingerprints had been burned and asserted that his son was shot from behind.
Separately, Sindh Inspector General of Police Javed Alam Odho stated the investigation was ongoing and significant progress had been made. He announced that police would soon hold a press conference to disclose further details.
Preliminary medical assessments indicated Ali sustained a gunshot wound to the chest, with initial findings suggesting he had taken a security guard’s weapon prior to the incident. The first post-mortem estimated the body to be 24 to 36 hours old at examination. Medico-legal experts noted the bullet’s entry wound was larger than the exit wound, implying the shot was fired from behind and exited through the front. They also observed suspicious marks on Ali’s right hand and injuries on his face.
Karachi Additional Inspector General of Police Azad Khan established a three-member special investigation team led by Special Investigation Unit SSP Samiullah Soomro, including District East SSP Zubair Nazir Sheikh and SP Muhammad Usman Saduzai. The team is tasked with thoroughly investigating the case and identifying those responsible. Investigators have obtained Ali’s mobile phone data and forensic reports. Records indicate he owed money to several individuals and sought a Rs30 million loan from a friend on the night of July 28. Statements from 15 individuals, including a taxi driver and the person who first reported the body online, have been recorded.
