Mir Raza Ali murder case: Judicial commission flags investigation failures

A judicial commission investigating the Mir Raza Ali murder case has raised significant concerns regarding the initial police investigation and the preservation of evidence. Led by Justice Omar Sial, the commission criticized the first investigation team, headed by SSP Samiullah Soomro, for failing to secure the crime scene. Specific failures noted include collecting footage from only one of 52 available cameras and the burning of bushes at the scene, which resulted in a loss of potential evidence. The commission also accused the team of attempting to shift responsibility onto junior officials.

In addition to police conduct, the commission is scrutinizing the involvement of health department officials. Justice Sial expressed displeasure with the Health Secretary and Director General, questioning whether their intervention in changing the medical board followed legal procedures. Health Secretary Tahir Hussain Sangi was summoned to provide information regarding departmental responsibilities and the role of Dr. Osama Sheikh.

Regarding procedural requests, the commission rejected a plea from the victim's family to summon senior police officers, such as the AIG and DIG, for personal appearances. The commission stated that no new material warranted changing its previous decision to deny these appearances, though the family may submit written questions for the officers to answer. While the commission expressed dissatisfaction with SSP Soomro’s handling of the matter, it noted that the SSP had responded to questions appropriately rather than attempting to evade them.