The Sindh government has taken a significant step by forming a joint investigation team to thoroughly examine the murder of young businessman Mir Raza. This decision follows clear recommendations from a judicial commission that reviewed the case in detail.
According to an official letter, DIG Irfan Ali Baloch will lead the JIT. The team will include representatives from the ISI, Intelligence Bureau, Sindh Rangers, and the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency. Officials believe this multi-agency approach will help uncover the full truth behind the incident.
Mir Raza, an IBA graduate who successfully ran a waffle-making business, left his PECHS home in the early hours of July 28. His family reported him missing the same day. The next morning, his body was recovered within the jurisdiction of Gulistan-e-Johar Police Station. The sudden and tragic loss shocked many in Karachi.
The judicial commission, headed by Sindh High Court judge Justice Omar Sial, strongly criticized the earlier police investigation. The commission described it as an “epic failure” and noted that officers failed to follow required procedures needed for proper judicial scrutiny and successful prosecution. Based on these findings, the commission recommended forming a dedicated JIT.
In a related move, the provincial Home Department has written to the Sindh Inspector General of Police. The letter forwards the commission’s observations and recommendations from a provincial cabinet subcommittee. It specifically calls for action against police officers named in the report.
The Home Department also sent a separate letter to the health secretary recommending the removal of Dr Osama Sheikh from his position. Dr Osama, the medico-legal officer who conducted the initial post-mortem examination, has been advised to undergo two years of further training.
Additionally, the Sindh government has decided to set up another investigation committee headed by a senior FIA officer. Authorities have written to the federal interior ministry requesting the nomination of an FIA officer of Grade 20 or above to lead this committee. DIG Baloch and DIG Naeem Ahmed Shaikh are also expected to serve on it.
Separately, a one-member committee led by Additional Inspector General of the Counter-Terrorism Department Zulfiqar Ali Larik has been formed. This committee will review the roles of police officers and personnel mentioned in the judicial commission’s report. DIG Baloch will assist in the review. The inquiry will specifically examine Inspector Ghaus’s role in the burning of the crime scene. The committee will submit its findings and recommendations to the Sindh IGP.
These coordinated steps show the government’s seriousness in ensuring a fair and complete probe into the Mir Raza murder.
