A judicial commission investigating the death of Karachi businessman Mir Raza Ali ordered the issuance of a notice to Sindh Home Minister Zia-ul-Hassan Lanjar following an abrupt confrontation with the provincial advocate general during proceedings. The inquiry follows the death of Ali, an IBA graduate whose body was discovered in Gulistan-e-Jauhar on July 29 after he went missing a day prior.
Judicial Commission Questions Police Handling and Delayed Sample Testing
The commission’s decision to summon the home minister unfolded during testimony from Police Surgeon Dr. Summaya Syed. During the hearing, lawyer Jibran Nasir—representing Raza’s family—pointed out that samples collected from the deceased businessman’s body faced a delay before reaching the laboratory for analysis. When the commission questioned whether samples possess a shelf life and if delays impact test results, Dr. Syed stated that delays do not usually make a difference, but she conceded that it could not be determined whether any chemical trace had been lost due to late testing. She further noted that delays are not usually seen in high-profile cases.
The inquiry took a contentious turn when the Sindh advocate general interrupted the proceedings to object to Nasir asking questions directly, arguing that questions should be asked by the commission rather than by Nasir. The commission pushed back against the state’s objection, asking why the provincial government opposed questions posed on behalf of the family and remarking, “Are you hiding something?” Citing the advocate general’s conduct during the testimony, the commission suspended the hearing and directed that an official notice be issued to Home Minister Zia-ul-Hassan Lanjar.
Background of the Investigation and Family’s Stance
The judicial inquiry was established to probe the circumstances surrounding Ali’s death. The businessman’s family marked his chehlum while continuing to reject suggestions that the death was a case of suicide, with his father consistently maintaining that his son was murdered. The proceedings build upon prior scrutiny by the inquiry body, which previously questioned multiple police officers regarding their handling of the case. The commission earlier issued a notice to investigation team head DIG Amir Farooqi over the alleged withholding of records.
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