An inquiry report prepared by Justice Umar Sial has classified the death of Mir Raza Ali as homicide, raising serious questions about the police investigation and recommending further action against officials responsible for investigative lapses.
The report, submitted to Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah, said the post-mortem examination confirmed that Mir Raza Ali had been shot in the back.
The inquiry questioned the police’s initial claim that the death was a suicide, saying the police maintained a position that contradicted the findings of the second post-mortem examination.
The report identified serious procedural and professional shortcomings in the initial police investigation, particularly in the collection of evidence and the handling of the case.
It also questioned the supervision and professional competence of senior police officers responsible for overseeing the investigation.
The inquiry recommended further investigation into the possible loss of evidence, an alleged cover-up and the potential involvement of police personnel in investigative lapses.
It called for the formation of a high-level committee to investigate possible police negligence and recommended that the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) lead further investigations into the death.
The report also recommended initiating criminal and departmental proceedings against police personnel found responsible for negligence or other wrongdoing.
It supported the family’s demand for the formation of a Joint Investigation Team (JIT) to investigate the circumstances surrounding Mir Raza Ali’s death.
The proposed JIT would include representatives from the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), Intelligence Bureau (IB), Pakistan Rangers (Sindh) and relevant cybercrime and crime investigation agencies.
The inquiry also criticized the police for failing to provide timely information to the victim’s family and the public.
The report called for further investigation to determine the possible role of police officials and identify those responsible for the shortcomings in the investigation.
It said transparent and impartial investigations were essential to restore public confidence in the handling of the case.
