Mir Raza Ali murder case: Court directs investigators to complete probe until Aug 24

• Additional evidence recovered from crime scene: investigation team.
• Court directs Ali's business partner to cooperate with investigators.
• Probe team retrieves digital devices from NCCIA, to be sent to PFSA.

KARACHI: A judicial magistrate on Saturday granted investigators until August 24 to complete the probe into the death of young businessman Mir Raza Ali after the investigating officer (IO) apprised the court that the inquiry had yet to be finalised.

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

IO Siraj Lashari appeared before the East judicial magistrate and sought additional time to conclude the investigation and submit a report. The court accepted the request and directed investigators to present their findings at the next hearing on August 24.

PFSA to analyse digital devices

Investigation officials said that the committee also retrieved Ali's mobile phone and smartwatch from the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA).

The devices will now be sent to the Punjab Forensic Science Agency (PFSA) in Lahore for forensic examination.

According to officials, the move comes after Ali's family expressed reservations about having the devices examined by the NCCIA and sought an independent forensic analysis.

The officials added that additional evidence had been recovered from the crime scene; however, no further details were disclosed.

Probe team expanded

Investigators probing the death of the young businessman have expanded the inquiry committee, increasing the members from 7 to 9.

The newly inducted members include the SHO of Shah Latif Town police station and a deputy superintendent of police (DSP).

Business partner's interim bail extended

In a separate development, an additional district and sessions judge extended the pre-arrest bail of Ali's business partner, Muhammad Ahmed, until August 24.

During the hearing, Ahmed's counsel told the court that his client had been called to the crime scene at around 1am.

The lawyer argued that his client feared being implicated in the case despite assisting the inquiry. The court later restrained police from harassing him pending further proceedings.

After hearing arguments, the court extended the interim bail and directed Ahmed to cooperate with investigators and join the ongoing probe.

Family seeks identification of killers

Speaking to reporters outside the court, Jibran Nasir, counsel for the deceased businessman's father, said the victim's family had provided investigators with the names of individuals who might possess information relevant to the case but had not accused anyone of involvement in the killing.

"The parents have not used the word 'suspect' for any individual," Nasir said, adding that names, including that of Ahmed, had been shared only to help investigators pursue all possible leads.

He described the case as a "blind murder" and said the family did not want to level allegations without evidence.

Nasir expressed confidence in the newly-constituted investigation team, saying its inquiry was not contradicting the available medical evidence and was being conducted in accordance with standard operating procedures (SOPs).

He said the family wanted investigators to ensure accurate geo-fencing analysis, obtain relevant CCTV footage and complete forensic examinations.

The lawyer also criticised the handling of the case by the previous investigation team, alleging that serious procedural lapses had occurred during the initial stages of the inquiry.

He claimed that a crime scene unit had failed to reach the site and alleged that the scene had been set on fire, potentially affecting the collection of DNA evidence.

"Our focus is on identifying the killers," he said, adding that the family wanted those responsible to be arrested alive and brought before the courts so the case could proceed through the legal process.

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.
• Medico-legal officer: Dr Osama removed after inquiry finds serious lapses in initial 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.

New inquiry team's visit

• Committee meeting: New investigation team holds meeting at Ferozabad police station.
• Site visit: Investigators revisit incident site and collect additional evidence.
• Witness interviews: Team questions nursery staff and receives first on-site briefing.

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.
• NCCIA: Four individuals summoned over social media claims linking Sindh Senior Minister Sharjeel Memon and his son to the case.