KARACHI: The Sindh government will form a joint investigation team (JIT) under the supervision of DIG Irfan Baloch to investigate the Mir Raza case, Sindh Home Minister Zia Lanjar has said.
Zia Lanjar said the legal and administrative complications surrounding the formation of the JIT had been resolved.
He said a summary seeking final approval for the formation of the JIT was being sent to Sindh Chief Minister for approval.
The home minister said a separate committee had also been formed under DIG Zulfiqar Larak to act on the recommendations concerning action against police officers.
He said the committee would recommend action in light of the findings and recommendations of the judicial commission.
Zia Lanjar further said that Mir Raza’s family was satisfied with the judicial commission’s recommendations and findings.
Earlier, the judicial commission investigating the death of Mir Raza Ali raised serious questions about the police investigation, the handling of medical and digital evidence, and the initial conclusion that he died by suicide.
The commission recommended a new joint investigation team (JIT) to conduct a comprehensive investigation into all aspects of his death.
The 70-page report, headed by Justice Umar Sial, was submitted to the Sindh chief minister on October 15. The commission held 20 meetings between August 27 and October 7 and recorded statements from 50 witnesses.
According to the report, the police initially declared Mir Raza’s death a suicide on the basis of the preliminary post-mortem report. His family challenged that conclusion, citing marks of violence on his body and other evidence.
The police surgeon identified shortcomings in the initial post-mortem report and recommended another examination. Mir Raza’s body was re-examined on August 8. The final report identified a bullet wound entering from the back as the cause of death.
The commission said it was not appropriate to conclude that the death was a suicide while ignoring contradictions in the medical evidence. It criticised the police for maintaining their initial position despite conflicting medical findings and failing to meet basic investigative requirements.