KARACHI: A judicial commission probing the killing of young businessman Mir Raza Ali has raised serious questions over the handling of the investigation, with SSP Special Investigation Unit Samiullah Soomro facing sharp criticism over the alleged mishandling of the crime scene and key evidence.
The one-member commission, headed by Sindh High Court Justice Omar Sial, heard the case on Thursday, with Soomro appearing before the panel as the head of the initial investigation team.
During the proceedings, Justice Sial questioned the SSP about why the crime scene had been burned.
Soomro said he had assigned a sub-inspector to search the area for bullet casings, but the team reported that dense bushes were obstructing the search. He identified police official Ghaus as the officer who set the site on fire.
The SSP said another team, led by ASP Ashar, visited the location the following day and recovered bullet casings.
Justice Sial asked whether burning a crime scene was part of standard police procedure.
“No, sir,” Soomro replied.
The judge referred to the handling of crime scenes in previous high-profile cases, including the Benazir Bhutto and Murtaza Bhutto cases, and expressed concern that similar issues had arisen in the Mir Raza investigation.
Justice Sial questioned Soomro over the circumstances, remarking that the SSP himself appeared to be under suspicion.
Soomro maintained that he had not directed anyone to burn the crime scene.
The judge then criticised the investigation, saying that the lapses had severely damaged the case and raised questions about how such a sensitive investigation was conducted.
Questions over recording of statements
The commission also examined the manner in which witness statements were recorded.
It noted that, according to investigators, 23 of the 33 statements in the case had been recorded by individuals other than the designated investigation officer, who subsequently signed them.
The panel questioned who actually recorded the statements and whether the procedure complied with the law.
Soomro acknowledged that the investigation officer was responsible for recording the statements personally.
The commission also questioned whether the investigation had been conducted under pressure.
Justice Sial observed that conduct by a senior officer could create an impression that outside pressure was involved, although Soomro did not admit to any such pressure.
Mobile phone evidence scrutinised
The commission also raised questions about the handling of Mir Raza’s mobile phone and conflicting accounts regarding its recovery.
Justice Sial referred to a video circulated in the media that allegedly showed Mir Raza throwing an object and questioned why it had been presented as evidence that he had thrown away his mobile phone.
The panel further asked why, after the phone was recovered from a drain, a different account emerged suggesting that it had been found near a wedding hall.
The judge also questioned why police had failed to challenge the narrative portraying the incident as suicide.
Soomro told the commission that the mobile phone had already been handed over to the Counter Terrorism Department before he took charge of the investigation.
The panel sought further clarification on how the important piece of evidence had been handled and whether police personnel had attempted to block or unlock the device.
Soomro denied that his team had tried to unlock the phone but said it was possible that the CTD had made such an attempt.
Case background
Twenty-five-year-old businessman Mir Raza Ali was found dead in Karachi’s Gulistan-i-Jauhar on July 29, a day after he was reported missing.
Lawyer Jibran Nasir, representing the victim’s family, had previously criticised the police investigation and accused the provincial authorities of failing to properly pursue the case.
Nasir alleged that efforts were being made to protect those responsible for Mir Raza’s death and claimed that officers who attempted to pursue the matter were instead suspended or removed from their positions.
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