Mir Raza Ali 'murder' case: Probe team visits crime scene to pursue fresh leads

• SSP Ali Raza reviews site where body surfaced.
• Officer questions gardener who first spotted body.
• Forensic findings expected as probe moves forward.

KARACHI: A member of the newly-constituted investigation team probing the death of businessman Mir Raza Ali visited the crime scene on Tuesday as authorities continued efforts to determine the circumstances surrounding the high-profile case.

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 has rejected suggestions that the death was a case of suicide.

Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Ali Raza, who serves as secretary of the five-member committee formed to investigate the case, inspected the site in Karachi's Gulistan-e-Jauhar area where Ali's body was discovered last month.

Ali's parents, along with the family's lawyer, Jibran Nasir, accompanied SSP Raza during the visit.

During the inspection, the police officer reviewed the location where the body was found and obtained details from the gardener who had first identified the body.

Ali's DNA matches parents

Meanwhile, the police confirmed that the DNA of the deceased businessman matched with his parents, as fresh forensic evidence revealed the presence of sedatives in his blood and gunshot residue on the back of his shirt, further corroborating that he was shot from behind.

The chemical analysis of Mir Raza's shirt, conducted at the University of Karachi's chemical laboratory, found traces of hydrochloric acid on the garment. The report has been issued to the relevant authorities, though sources clarified that this report had no connection with the DNA laboratory.

Separately, investigators found gunshot residue on the back of Mir Raza's shirt, with sources saying the higher concentration of GSR towards the back indicated the bullet had been fired from behind.

His blood sample also tested positive for sedative substances, suggesting he may have been drugged before being shot.

Father sees probe moving in right direction

Speaking to reporters after the visit, the lawyer said the family had assisted investigators in identifying key locations linked to the case and was extending full cooperation to the new probe team.

He said Ali's parents were prepared to answer any questions put to them by investigators and were awaiting the results of forensic examinations, including reports based on samples obtained during the post-mortem and after the exhumation.

Nasir said the family had repeatedly attempted to gather information from the area in the days following the incident but had received little assistance.

He added that the family had itself identified several locations of interest and shared them with investigators during the visit.

Mir Hussain, the deceased's father, said it was the first time in nearly two weeks that he felt the investigation was moving in the right direction.

He expressed confidence in the newly-constituted probe team and said the family hoped the investigation would reach its logical conclusion.

Hussain said the family had already provided police with information regarding three suspicious individuals and remained committed to pursuing all legal avenues to establish the facts surrounding his son's death.

He also said the previous investigation team had not shared its findings with the family.

Investigation failures

Fresh revelations emerged about serious lapses in the initial investigation.

Investigative authorities confirmed that geofencing of the crime scene had not been conducted despite several days passing since the incident, and that Mir Raza's mobile data record had not been obtained. Forensic examination of his smartwatch had also not been carried out.

The new investigation team said geofencing would be conducted on Tuesday and that mobile data record details were being obtained.

Details of a suspected guesthouse had also been collected, and the new team had contacted the NCCIA, with a formal application to be submitted to the agency to determine whether Mir Raza had faced any threats prior to his death.

Court proceedings

Meanwhile, the former investigating officer appeared before the Judicial Magistrate East in the Mir Raza murder case and requested additional time to submit the investigation report, stating that the case's investigating officer had been changed by senior officials.

He said the new investigating officer would appear at the next hearing. The court accepted the former officer's request and directed that the report be submitted by August 15.

A notification was issued expanding the investigation team by two additional members — DSP Sirajuddin and Inspector Muhammad Ali — bringing the total team strength to seven members.

NCCIA summons 4 individuals

The National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) summoned four individuals for questioning over an alleged social media campaign linking Sindh Senior Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon and his son, Rawal Memon, to the businessman's case.

The agency directed the individuals to appear at its Karachi office on August 13 along with relevant documents, evidence and digital devices.

The development came after Memon approached the NCCIA, alleging that false and malicious content was being circulated on social media to link him and his son to the case and damage their reputations.

According to a complaint submitted through his lawyer, Advocate Syeda Malaika Naqvi, several social media accounts, pages and groups disseminated allegations claiming that a guesthouse allegedly connected to the incident was owned by Memon and that his son had left for London after the incident.

The complaint further alleged that similar claims appeared across multiple social media platforms in near-identical language, suggesting the possibility of a coordinated online campaign.

Memon requested the cybercrime agency to identify those operating the accounts through forensic and technical investigations and to initiate formal proceedings against those responsible.

The summonses mark the first reported action by the NCCIA in connection with the complaint.