Dr Osama, the medico-legal officer responsible for the initial post-mortem of young businessman Mir Raza Ali, was removed from his position due to significant procedural lapses. An inquiry into the case uncovered serious flaws in the examination, prompting authorities to relieve him of his duties. Dr Osama is expected to appear before relevant officials for further investigation.
The controversy arose after discrepancies were noted between the Karachi police surgeon’s report and investigators’ findings regarding the post-mortem. This dispute led Mir Raza’s father to petition a local Karachi court for a fresh medical examination of his son’s body. Jibran Nasir, representing the family, highlighted critical omissions, stating that no X-ray had been conducted and the cause of death remained undetermined.
Subsequently, the court approved the exhumation of the body last week. A new autopsy performed on Saturday revealed that Mir Raza had been shot in the back. The report detailed two bullet holes in his shirt—one on the back and a larger one on the front. Additionally, signs of violence were evident, including black marks, injuries on the feet, blood stains on lower body tissues, and a 12-centimeter fracture on the right thigh. The jaw also showed deep injury and fracture.
In a related development, a chemical examination report obtained the previous day found acid particles on Mir Raza’s shirt and indications of torture. The report suggested attempts to conceal his identity, noting the absence of fingerprints on his hands. It also detected gunshot residue on the clothing.
During a press conference in Karachi, Nasir revealed that CCTV footage of Mir Raza surfaced on July 28, with his body discovered the next day. He emphasized that the facial damage was caused by acid burns rather than decomposition. The body was estimated to be 20 to 22 hours old, implying Mir Raza may have been held captive for up to 12 hours. Nasir also alleged that Mir Raza’s smartwatch was confiscated from the family on the third day following the funeral rites and accused the SHO of repeatedly moving with the guesthouse’s DVR. The victim’s mobile phone had been sent to the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD).
Nasir added that SSP Investigation Usman Sadozai had been dispatched to Kashmir and suggested the perpetrators were aware of camera-free zones. He also raised concerns that Mir Raza’s phone might have been hacked. Bottles of acid discovered near the Water Board office were reported to police by the family. The family had persistently requested police to record statements from its members to aid the investigation.
Nasir stated the family had cooperated fully with investigators, assisting in identifying key locations related to the case. He noted that Ali’s parents were ready to answer any inquiries and awaited forensic reports derived from samples taken during the post-mortem and exhumation. However, the family had encountered limited support from authorities when attempting to gather information in the days following the incident.
Mir Hussain, the deceased’s father, expressed cautious optimism about the progress of the investigation under the newly formed probe team. He voiced confidence that the inquiry would reach a conclusive outcome. Hussain mentioned that the family had already provided details about three suspicious individuals and remained determined to pursue all legal options to uncover the truth. He also criticized the previous investigation team for withholding its findings from the family.
Further revelations exposed major deficiencies in the initial investigation. Authorities confirmed that geofencing of the crime scene was not conducted despite several days elapsing since the incident, and Mir Raza’s mobile data had not been acquired. The smartwatch had also not undergone forensic analysis. The new investigation team announced plans to carry out geofencing on Tuesday and was in the process of obtaining mobile data records. They have gathered information about a suspected guesthouse and contacted the National Counter Terrorism Authority (NCCIA), preparing to formally request details regarding any threats Mir Raza might have faced before his death.
