The Sindh government has formed a joint investigation team (JIT) to reinvestigate the murder of young businessman Mir Raza Ali in light of a judicial commission’s report, while a separate committee will examine alleged police negligence and possible attempts to cover up the case, Aaj News reported on Saturday.
The JIT will be headed by Sindh Police Deputy Inspector General Irfan Baloch and include representatives of the Rangers, federal intelligence agencies and the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA), Sindh Home Minister Ziaul Hasan Lanjar said.
The provincial Home Department has written to the Rangers to nominate a Grade-18 officer for the team. The government also plans to include a Grade-20 Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) officer in a separate committee to investigate the police’s role, alleged negligence and shortcomings during the initial 10 days of the case. The department has approached the federal interior ministry to nominate an officer.
The JIT will be authorised to submit the case challan before the court, with the necessary legal formalities being completed, the home minister said.
Judicial commission report prompts fresh action
Mir Raza Ali, 25, went missing from Karachi’s PECHS area on July 28, 2026. His body, bearing signs of torture and gunshot wounds, was found in Gulistan-e-Jauhar two days later.
Police initially suspected suicide, but his family maintained that he had been abducted, tortured and murdered.
Following the family’s concerns, the body was exhumed on August 8 for a second post-mortem examination on court orders. The investigation was subsequently transferred to the Zaman Town police station.
The Sindh government later established a judicial commission through the Sindh High Court. The commission submitted its report to the government on October 15, and the provincial cabinet made the report public by publishing it on the official website.
Action against police officials
The provincial government has also formed a committee headed by DIG Zulfiqar Larak to review the police investigation system, crime scene unit and other relevant departments and recommend reforms in line with the judicial commission’s findings.
Sindh Inspector General of Police Javed Alam Odho has said the police will implement all the commission’s recommendations.
The Home Department has directed the provincial police chief to convey the commission’s observations about senior officers Amir Farooqi and Farrukh Lanjar to the relevant deputy inspectors general.
It has also ordered the removal and suspension of SHO Adeel Afzal and departmental proceedings against him, while directing that SSP Samiullah Soomro receive further professional training.
An FIA inquiry has been ordered into allegations of evidence tampering involving SHO Kamran Qureshi. Inspectors Shabbir Laghari and Ghaus have also been ordered suspended, with departmental investigations to follow.
Separately, the Home Department has written to the health secretary seeking the immediate suspension of Dr Osama Sheikh over alleged shortcomings in post-mortem and medico-legal procedures, along with arrangements for two years of further training.
The department has also recommended commendation certificates for Zeeshan and Constable Arif for their performance.
The chief minister has directed that the judicial commission’s report be provided to the victim’s family. A four-member subcommittee of provincial ministers has also been formed to determine the next steps and ensure that the requirements of justice are met.