Mir Raza Ali case: New investigation team summons taxi driver, expands probe

KARACHI: The newly constituted investigation team probing the death of young businessman Mir Raza Ali has summoned the online taxi service driver who transported him to Gulistan-e-Jauhar in the early hours of July 28, as investigators broaden their probe into the circumstances surrounding his death.

According to investigation sources, the driver, identified as Ehsanullah, picked up Raza from Shahrah-e-Millat Road and dropped him in Gulistan-e-Jauhar.

Investigators will examine the driver’s account as part of efforts to reconstruct Raza’s movements before his disappearance and establish a detailed timeline of events leading up to his death.

The questioning of the driver comes as the new investigation team examines several aspects of the case, including the crime scene, digital evidence, geofencing, Raza’s financial activities, forensic evidence and circumstances surrounding the post-mortem and exhumation.

Sources said police had assigned specific responsibilities to officers serving on the newly formed investigation team.

SSP Ali Raza has been tasked with collecting and examining evidence from the crime scene as well as gathering relevant digital evidence.

DSP Chaudhry Ghazanfar and Inspector Ghazanfar have been assigned to examine crime scene evidence and conduct geofencing to establish the movements and presence of individuals in the relevant areas around the time of the incident.

SP Qais Khan is investigating Raza’s alleged digital currency investments and related financial matters. He has also been tasked with coordinating with and conducting inquiries through the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA).

SP Dr Anum Tajammul is handling the medico-legal and forensic aspects of the investigation, including examination of the post-mortem, exhumation and laboratory reports and assessment of how the findings fit into the wider investigation.

The new team is also receiving technical assistance from the Citizens-Police Liaison Committee (CPLC).

Police officials and members of the investigation team are expected to visit the crime scene again as part of the fresh investigation.

Sindh Police Inspector General Javed Alam Odho has acknowledged shortcomings in the handling of the case, saying both police and medico-legal officials made mistakes during the initial stages of the investigation.

Speaking to the media, the provincial police chief said the medico-legal officer had initially guided police in the wrong direction.

He said a new committee had subsequently been constituted to investigate the matter afresh.

Odho said Raza’s parents were the biggest stakeholders in the case and maintained that they were being engaged in the investigation. He assured that action would be taken against anyone found to have been involved in the incident.

The latest developments come amid serious allegations by the family and their lawyer regarding the circumstances of Raza’s death.

On Tuesday, lawyer Jibran Nasir, who represents the victim’s family, alleged that Raza had been subjected to prolonged torture before his death.

Speaking at a press conference alongside Raza’s parents, Nasir claimed that chemical analysis of the deceased’s shirt had detected traces of acid.

He alleged that samples sealed during the investigation had produced significant findings, including evidence of acid on Raza’s clothing.

Nasir further alleged that Raza had been administered anaesthesia directly into his body and claimed that the young businessman had been tortured for around 12 hours.

The lawyer also raised the possibility that Raza may have been forced to ingest acid.

The allegations have not been independently verified, while the complete forensic methodology and laboratory reports have not been publicly released.

Nasir also questioned the timeline between the last known sighting of Raza and the recovery of his body.

He referred to CCTV footage that allegedly showed Raza at around 4:38pm on July 28 and asked investigators to establish what happened between that sighting and the discovery of his body on July 29.

The family and its legal team have been working with the newly constituted investigation committee and have provided investigators with information and concerns regarding the earlier probe.

Nasir said the family had identified a location where empty bottles believed to have contained acid were present and urged investigators to examine the finding as part of the fresh investigation.

The lawyer also raised questions about the preservation and handling of evidence, particularly CCTV footage and digital material.

Nasir alleged that CCTV footage from a relevant area had not been handled properly and claimed that the digital video recorder containing the footage was being transported in a vehicle by Township SHO Adil Afzal.

He also questioned the composition of the earlier investigation team and alleged that the probe had been compromised.

Nasir called for inquiries against SSP Samiullah Somro and SSP East Zubair Nazir Sheikh, accusing them of allowing evidence to be destroyed.

These allegations have not been independently established, and the new investigation team is expected to examine the chain of custody of physical and digital evidence as part of its investigation.

The family lawyer also raised questions about a smartwatch believed to be relevant to the case.

Nasir said SSP Samiullah Somro had been contacted and asked to provide the smartwatch, arguing that the handling of the device required greater scrutiny.

Investigators are expected to examine digital devices and other electronic evidence to determine whether they can help establish Raza’s movements, communications and activities before his death.

Raza reportedly went missing on July 28 after leaving his home, and his body was recovered the following day near Gulistan-e-Jauhar.

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The case initially became associated with a suicide theory, which was rejected by the family, who raised questions about the circumstances surrounding his death.

Following the family’s objections, a court ordered the exhumation of Raza’s body from the Tariq Road graveyard under the supervision of a medical board.

A subsequent post-mortem examination found that Raza had sustained a gunshot wound from behind, along with other injuries on his body. The findings prompted renewed questions about the circumstances of his death and the handling of the initial investigation.

A newly constituted investigation team subsequently visited the location where the body was recovered and began examining evidence and questioning people connected with the case.

Investigators have also confirmed through DNA testing that the body recovered from Gulistan-e-Jauhar was that of Mir Raza, with samples matching those of his parents.

Raza’s father has also alleged that the SHO of Ferozabad police station summoned his son’s friends for questioning and threatened them.