Mir Raza Ali's father seeks suspension of East DIG, others for 'concealing evidence'

• Mir Hussain seeks suspenion of Ferozabad SHO. 
• Says police officers “played a game” with him. 
• Ali's family sought analysis of his smartwatch at PFSA.
  

Mir Hussain Ali, the father of slain 25-year-old businessman Mir Raza Ali, on Friday demanded that Karachi East Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Dr Farrukh Ali and others be suspended for allegedly delaying the investigation and attempting to conceal evidence.

Talking to journalists, Mir Hussain urged the authorities to also suspend the Ferozabad station house officer for his alleged role in mishandling the murder case of his son.

He said that the police officers “played a game” with the bereaved family.

Ali, an IBA graduate and businessman, was found dead in Gulistan-e-Jauhar a day after he went missing on July 28.

Initially, police were working on the possibility that he had died by suicide; however, his father maintained that his son had been kidnapped, tortured and killed.

Family seeks PFSA probe

A day earlier, the family of the deceased businessman opposed the forensic examination of his smartwatch by the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) as their lawyer Jibran Nasir had sought analysis of the device at the Punjab Forensic Science Agency (PFSA).

Speaking to Geo News, Nasir had said the smartwatch had remained in the possession of the former committee head for several days before being handed over to the NCCIA on Wednesday.

The lawyer had said the family did not want the smartwatch examined by the NCCIA and instead wanted it forensically analysed at the PFSA, a Lahore-based facility operating under the Punjab Home Department.

Nasir had also raised concerns about possible tampering, citing the fact that the smartwatch had remained with the former committee head for several days.

Investigation team visits incident site

The new investigation committee held its meeting at Ferozabad police station on Thursday, according to investigation sources. Several key decisions regarding the investigation were made during the meeting, and committee members were assigned specific responsibilities, the sources  had added.

Following the meeting, committee members proceeded to the incident site to collect additional evidence as part of the ongoing investigation. The sources had said the previous investigating officer also accompanied the team to assist with the inquiry.

The committee chief, DIG Karachi Branch, was briefed on the investigation. This marked the DIG's first visit to the incident site since assuming leadership of the committee.

Committee members also interviewed the nursery staff and gathered further details relevant to the case, according to investigation sources.

Investigators write to NCCIA

Meanwhile, the new investigation team, headed by Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Amir Farooqi, had written four separate letters to the NCCIA, according to investigation sources.

The team had requested a forensic examination of the deceased businessman's smartwatch, according to the contents of the letters.

It had also sought details of Ali's social media accounts and other digital accounts, the sources said.

The new investigation team would hold its second meeting at Ferozabad police station, sources had said. Following the meeting, the team would revisit the crime scene as part of its ongoing investigation.

Mir Raza Ali case: Key twists and developments

From disappearance to fresh examination

• Mir Raza Ali went missing on July 28; a cab driver said he booked a ride at 3:57am.
• His body was found in Gulistan-e-Jauhar on July 29; his father insisted his son was murdered.
• Initial probe: Family questions medico-legal findings; court later allows exhumation and fresh post-mortem.

Fresh forensic findings

• Fresh autopsy: Gunshot injury found on his back, alongside other injuries.
• Chemical report: Acid particles and gunshot-residue elements found on his shirt, according to report.
• Blood test: Police say sedatives are detected; DNA matches his parents.

New probe takes charge

• New team: Authorities constitute a fresh investigation team to probe the case.
• Crime scene: Team revisits the site and questions the gardener who found the body.
• Investigation gaps: Geofencing, mobile-data collection and smartwatch forensics remain pending.

Smartwatch and digital evidence

• Investigation sources: Team sends four letters to NCCIA seeking smartwatch forensics and digital-account details.
• Family lawyer: Jibran Nasir seeks PFSA examination of smartwatch, citing possible tampering.

Other key developments

• Court: Investigation report submission deadline set for August 15.
• NCCIA: Four individuals summoned over social media claims linking Memon and his son to the case.
• Medico-legal officer: Dr Osama removed after inquiry finds serious lapses in initial post-mortem.