Mir Raza Ali's family moves SHC for JIT formation to investigate case

• Ali's family names Sindh govt and others as respondents.
• Forensic reports of Ali's phone still awaited, IO tells court.
• Family's lawyer says IO has not nominated anyone in case.

KARACHI: The family of young businessman Mir Raza Ali on Monday approached the Sindh High Court (SHC), seeking the formation of a joint investigation team (JIT) to investigate the case.

The family named the Sindh government and others as respondents in the application, with an initial hearing expected today.

Ali, an IBA graduate and businessman, was found dead in Karachi’s Gulistan-e-Jauhar a day after he went missing on July 28. His father has consistently maintained that his son was murdered and has rejected suggestions that the death was a case of suicide.

Speaking to the media in Karachi today, the family's lawyer, Jibran Nasir, said the family had also written to Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah regarding the matter.

"There should be a question as to why the evidence was destroyed," he said, adding that no action had been taken against the officials concerned.

According to Nasir, the family learnt about the Sindh government's decision to form a judicial commission through the media, adding that its findings would not form part of the challan report.

"The narrative of suicide was created by selectively releasing CCTV footage at will," Nasir alleged, saying that the family had not been provided the CCTV footage either.

He further questioned why authorities were now saying the cameras were faulty after 25 days.

"After 25 days, they are now saying the cameras are faulty," Nasir said, adding that the vehicles visible in the CCTV footage had not been investigated.

Nasir had previously told Geo News that they would approach the SHC against the formation of the judicial commission.

A spokesperson for CM Murad said on Sunday that the provincial cabinet decided to form a judicial commission to investigate the death of the young businessman.

"After carefully considering the concerns expressed by the family, the government of Sindh has decided to request the honourable Chief Justice of the Sindh High Court to establish a Judicial Commission to conduct an impartial and transparent inquiry," the spokesperson added.

In a separate development today, a judicial magistrate in Karachi's East district granted the investigating officer more time to submit a report in the case.

The court directed the investigating officer to submit the report by September 7, while the officer said forensic reports of Ali's mobile phone and other belongings were still awaited.

In the media talk, Nasir said that the investigating officer has neither nominated anyone nor is there any expectation of a supplementary challan.

He also questioned whether action was being taken against the previous investigation team and asked authorities to provide details if any such proceedings were underway.

"If action is being taken against the previous investigation team, then tell us about that as well," he said, adding that the family had no information about whether the former investigation team had been questioned.

Judicial commission formed

The SHC chief justice constituted a judicial commission to investigate the case, with Justice Omar Sial named as its head.

The commission was formed on the Sindh government's request to investigate the alleged murder of the young businessman.

Speaking informally to journalists, the family's lawyer said that the court had restrained police from submitting a final investigation report until a decision on their application.

"The court has sought the terms and conditions relating to the judicial commission," Jibran Nasir said.

He said the court had also sought a report regarding officers who allegedly showed negligence and carelessness during the investigation.