Mir Raza Ali's post-mortem completed after exhumation, says board member

• Medical board members obtain samples from grave.
• Heavy contingent of police deployed at Karachi graveyard.
• Eight-member medical board oversaw exhumation.

KARACHI: The post-mortem examination of deceased businessman Mir Raza Ali has been completed after his body's exhumation at the graveyard near Tariq Road, a medical board member said on Saturday.

Various samples were obtained from Ali's body during the procedure, according to the medical board member.

The samples collected will be sent for chemical analysis, the board member said, adding that the body was reburied after all formalities were completed.

The deceased businessman's father, Mir Hussain, told Geo News that he is satisfied with the exhumation proceedings.

"I pray that what happened during the earlier post-mortem does not happen again," he said.

He also said that a fake audio clip purportedly featuring Ali had been circulated in an attempt to undermine the case.

The exhumation of the deceased young businessman's body began earlier today amid tight security arrangements at the graveyard.

The development came a day after Ali's exhumation, originally scheduled for Friday, was delayed following his family's objection to the reconstitution of the medical board overseeing the process.

Ali — an IBA graduate — returned home from his shop on the night of July 28 before leaving again, telling his family he would be back within 10 minutes. Police later recovered his body from Gulistan-e-Jauhar.

His father later alleged that the young businessman was murdered, dismissing speculation that his son had died by suicide.

During today's proceedings, members of the medical board will obtain different samples from Ali's grave as part of the examination process.

Ali's family members and their lawyer Jibran Nasir were present at the graveyard for the proceedings, with a heavy contingent of police deployed at the graveyard.

The authorities on Friday restored the original eight-member medical board tasked with overseeing the exhumation of Ali's body, replacing the previously notified five-member panel.

The move came after Ali's family stopped the administration from proceeding with the exhumation, which had been scheduled for Friday morning, over objections to reconstituting the original medical board.

Speaking to the reporters, the family's lawyer had raised concerns over the overnight replacement of the board formed following court orders.

Nasir said the post-mortem report is expected by 6pm and would clarify whether Ali died by suicide or was murdered.

He said the family hoped all its questions would be answered once the report is received at 6pm.

"Once the post-mortem report arrives, there will be no question left as to whether this was suicide or murder," Nasir said.

He said the family is satisfied with Saturday's proceedings, adding that the entire process was completed in the presence of the judicial magistrate, the investigation officer and members of the examination team.

"The work that the police could not complete in eight or nine days was completed because of the court," Nasir said.

In an emergency notice addressed to the police surgeon and the Sindh health secretary, the family's lawyer had said the court had directed the police surgeon and the health secretary to constitute a medical board, following which the Karachi police surgeon formed an eight-member board comprising forensic and pathology experts.

He further argued that only the relevant divisional police surgeon had the authority to constitute a medical board for an exhumation.

Hours later, Nasir announced the postponement of the exhumation, saying a third notification concerning the medical board had been issued.

According to Nasir, the notification merged the first and second medical boards to form a third panel. However, he maintained that the victim's family did not accept the newly constituted board.

Nasir also alleged political interference in the case, and said that the repeated issuance of notifications had raised concerns for the family.