A judicial commission investigating Mir Raza Ali’s death has recommended forming a joint investigation team (JIT) to examine the case further. Its report identified serious shortcomings in the police investigation and raised questions about the initial claim that he died by suicide.
According to the report, the final post-mortem findings cited a gunshot wound entering from the back as the cause of death. The commission also highlighted failures in evidence preservation and concerns about police investigative procedures. It said these issues required a rigorous and transparent investigation.
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The commission recommended a JIT led by Deputy Inspector General Irfan Baloch. Representatives from the Inter-Services Intelligence, Intelligence Bureau, Pakistan Rangers Sindh and the cybercrime agency would also join the proposed team. The recommendation aims to support further examination of the evidence and circumstances surrounding the death.
Separately, the commission called for a high-level committee led by the Federal Investigation Agency to investigate the role of police personnel. It also recommended departmental and criminal proceedings against officers found responsible for wrongdoing. The report stressed that compromised evidence made a thorough inquiry necessary.
The commission submitted its report to Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah on October 15. Its findings have renewed attention on the handling of the case and the initial police investigation. The report also acknowledged concerns over the preservation of important evidence.
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Jibran Nasir, the lawyer representing Mir Raza’s family, said the report supported concerns previously raised by the relatives. Speaking to Geo News, he said the commission had also recommended an inquiry into officers who handled the case during its first ten days. He added that Dr Usama was among those officers.
Nasir further said the commission had noted declining public and family confidence in the police. He maintained that substantial evidence had reportedly been lost during the investigation. The proposed JIT and separate review of police conduct are recommendations intended to address these concerns; the report does not itself establish individual criminal responsibility.
