The Sindh government on Sunday announced that a judicial inquiry would be conducted into the alleged murder of young businessman Mir Raza Ali in Karachi.
Twenty-five-year-old Raza was found dead under mysterious circumstances in Gulistan-e-Johar on July 29.
The investigation into his death attracted renewed attention on August 3 after Karachi Police Surgeon Dr Samia Syed identified 14 discrepancies in his initial post-mortem examination.
At the request of Raza’s family, a court approved the exhumation of his body and ordered a second post-mortem examination.
However, the family alleged that the Sindh Health Department was attempting to make changes to the new medical board and include members from outside Karachi Division.
Following protests by Raza’s family, the previous medical board was restored, and a second post-mortem examination was conducted on Saturday.
Second post-mortem reveals bullet wound and injuries
The second post-mortem report stated that there was a gunshot wound on the back of Raza’s body. It also found marks of injuries on different parts of his body.
The case has remained in the headlines of local media for several days. On Sunday, Sindh Home Minister Zia-ul-Hassan Lanjar and Karachi Mayor Barrister Murtaza Wahab visited Raza’s residence and offered condolences to his family.
Karachi Additional Inspector General, DIG East and the relevant SSP were also present during the visit.
According to Zia-ul-Hassan Lanjar, a judicial commission headed by a judge of the Sindh High Court would be formed on the recommendation of the Sindh chief minister.
He said a new investigation team, headed by DIG Aamir Farooqi, had also been constituted to investigate the case. The team includes three SSPs.
Lanjar said the investigation team would remain in close contact with Raza’s parents and cooperate fully with the family to ensure a transparent and impartial investigation.
According to Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab, a four-hour-long meeting was held under the chairmanship of the Sindh chief minister, during which all aspects of the incident and the investigation were discussed in detail.
Raza’s family lawyer Jibran Nasir and his father, Mir Hussain Ali, said the findings of the new report indicated that Raza had been murdered.
Family demands transparent investigation
Jibran Nasir had demanded on Saturday that the entire investigation team be replaced and a new team comprising officers considered transparent and impartial be formed to investigate the case.
A notification issued by the office of the Inspector General of Police, Sindh, stated:
“The post-mortem (exhumation) report No. 9/2026, issued on August 8, 2026, is contradictory to post-mortem report No. 329/2026 dated July 29, 2026. In view of this contradiction, a new investigation team is being constituted to supervise the investigation of the case.”
According to the notification, police have also added Sections 302 and 201 of the Pakistan Penal Code to the original First Information Report (FIR).
Section 302 relates to intentional murder, while Section 201 deals with concealing, destroying or tampering with evidence of a crime, or providing false information with the intention of protecting an offender.
The initial FIR had been registered only under Section 365 of the Pakistan Penal Code, which relates to kidnapping.
Final cause of death yet to be determined
The medical board has reserved its final opinion regarding the cause of Ali’s death until the results of chemical and toxicology analyses are received.
The tests are also expected to help determine whether the fatal gunshot wound was self-inflicted or resulted from a homicide.
The conflicting findings of the two post-mortem examinations, the injuries found on Raza’s body and the location of the gunshot wound have raised further questions about the circumstances surrounding his death.
The judicial commission and the newly formed investigation team are now expected to examine all aspects of the case and determine whether Mir Raza Ali died by suicide or was murdered.
