The Sindh High Court (SHC) on Wednesday refused a petition requesting the formation of a joint investigation team (JIT) to probe the murder of Mir Raza Ali. The verdict was delivered by a two-member bench led by Justice Adnanul Karim, alongside Justice Muhammad Jaffer Raza. The decision had been reserved since Monday and was in response to a plea filed by Ali’s family.
Mir Raza, a businessman and IBA graduate, was discovered dead in Karachi’s Gulistan-e-Jauhar on July 29, one day after he went missing. His father has consistently disputed claims that his son’s death was a suicide, insisting it was murder.
In its detailed seven-page judgment, the SHC expressed sympathy for the family’s loss but emphasized that emotional considerations could not override the legal framework. The court dismissed the petition, stating that the investigation should proceed under the established legal process.
The court acknowledged assurances from the investigating officer that all efforts would be made to conclude the investigation thoroughly. It highlighted that the officer could employ all legal resources and seek assistance from other agencies if necessary. The SHC directed that the inquiry be conducted impartially, fairly, and without delay.
Furthermore, the court noted that the petitioner retained the right to pursue all legal avenues to ensure the investigation’s transparency and fairness.
Following the ruling, advocate Jibran Nasir, representing Ali’s family, announced plans to appeal. He clarified that the family had not requested the court to conduct the investigation directly but sought judicial oversight to address alleged investigative shortcomings. Nasir argued that documented evidence revealed investigative failures that could not be dismissed as disputed facts.
He distinguished between judicial oversight of an investigation and reviewing whether the investigative process was compromised, asserting that constitutional courts have the authority to intervene if an inquiry is flawed or questionable. Nasir stressed that access to constitutional remedies must be effective and timely to be meaningful.
Last month, Ali’s family challenged the formation of an inquiry panel, arguing that establishing it at this stage could adversely affect the case. This followed the SHC chief justice’s decision to create a judicial commission headed by Justice Omar Sial, formed at the Sindh government’s request to investigate the alleged murder.
Nasir criticized the government’s move to set up the commission without consulting the family or disclosing its terms of reference. The commission was tasked with submitting a report within 30 days, focusing on constitutional and legal aspects to ensure transparency, as stated in the official notification.
Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab confirmed the commission’s mandate to thoroughly examine the circumstances surrounding the brutal killing.
