The Sindh High Court (SHC) on Monday established a judicial commission to investigate the death of young businessman Mir Raza Ali, appointing Justice Umar Sial as its chairman. This decision came at the request of the Sindh government, which sought an impartial and transparent inquiry into the circumstances surrounding Mir Raza’s death and the handling of the initial investigation.
The SHC’s directorate officially communicated the formation of the commission to the Sindh Home Department through formal correspondence. Earlier in the day, the court also heard an urgent petition filed by Mir Raza’s family challenging the creation of the judicial commission, demanding instead the formation of a joint investigation team (JIT) to conduct a fresh and thorough probe.
The family’s legal counsel, Advocate Mir Hussain, stated that 19 respondents were named in the petition, and the court issued notices to all parties for a hearing scheduled on August 31. The family argued that an empowered JIT, comprising officials from various institutions, would be better suited to investigate the matter comprehensively rather than a judicial commission limited to issuing findings.
Notably, the Sindh government had announced on Sunday its intention to seek the SHC chief justice’s approval for the commission, aiming to examine alleged investigative lapses, including negligence, misconduct, and issues related to evidence handling. However, the family opposed this move, emphasizing they were neither consulted nor provided with details of the decision, even after more than 24 hours had passed since the announcement.
Speaking outside the high court, family counsel Advocate Jibran Nasir expressed frustration that the family had only learned about the commission through media reports and still lacked clarity on its terms of reference. He stressed that while the family supports accountability, the actual investigation must be conducted by law enforcement agencies rather than through a judicial inquiry.
Nasir highlighted concerns over selective release and inconsistent handling of CCTV footage, which initially suggested a suicide narrative, a claim the family has always disputed, insisting Mir Raza was murdered. He questioned why some surveillance cameras were now being described as faulty weeks after the incident and why vehicles visible in the footage had not been properly examined.
The family’s lawyer also raised serious questions about the destruction or loss of evidence, the handling of digital and forensic material such as Mir Raza’s smartwatch and mobile phone, and the conduct of those close to him before his death. Additionally, he sought information on whether any action had been taken against members of the previous investigation team for alleged lapses.
In a significant development, the Sindh government’s decision to form the commission followed a letter from Mir Raza’s parents to Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah, requesting his direct supervision of the inquiry. The government stated that it took the family’s concerns seriously and intended the commission to scrutinize whether the investigation was conducted impartially and legally, including the roles of police, medico-legal officials, and other authorities.
The commission, empowered under the Sindh Tribunals of Inquiry Ordinance, 1969, can summon witnesses, record statements under oath, and demand production of documents. It is expected to submit its findings within 30 days, with possible extensions. The government has instructed all relevant departments to cooperate fully, with secretariat support provided by the home department.
Despite these measures, the family insists that a criminal investigation should take precedence over a judicial inquiry into the investigation’s conduct. They argue that only a JIT with broad investigative powers can properly uncover the truth.
Mir Raza, an IBA graduate and businessman, went missing on July 28, with his body discovered the following day in Karachi’s Gulistan-e-Jauhar. From the beginning, his parents rejected the suicide theory and maintained that he was murdered. The initial investigation’s focus on suicide caused significant friction between the family and authorities.
Subsequently, a new police team led by DIG Amir Farooqui was formed to re-examine the case. This team engaged with the family and reviewed records from the earlier investigation. Initially, the family welcomed the new team and expressed confidence in its work, leading the Sindh government to postpone plans for a judicial inquiry until now.
