KARACHI: The Sindh government has decided to form a joint investigation team (JIT) to investigate the Mir Raza murder case on the recommendation of a judicial commission, sources told ARY News.
According to sources, a ministerial committee met Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah and presented its recommendations regarding the case.
The JIT will be formed under the supervision of Irfan Baloch, while officials from the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), Intelligence Bureau (IB) and other relevant departments will also be part of the team, sources said.
Sources further said police officers and station house officers (SHOs) nominated in the judicial commission’s recommendations will also face inquiries.
The Sindh government will also prepare a plan for police investigation reforms in light of the judicial commission’s recommendations, sources added.
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.