Probe team obtains Mir Raza’s phone, smartwatch from NCCIA for forensic analysis

Significant progress has been reported in the investigation into the death of young Karachi businessman Mir Raza, with a newly constituted investigation team taking back his mobile phone and smartwatch from the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA).

According to investigation sources, the devices will be sent to Lahore for forensic examination after the family expressed reservations about having them examined by the NCCIA. The investigators have also reportedly recovered additional evidence from the crime scene, Aaj News reported.

The development came as a Karachi court granted interim bail to Mir Raza’s business partner, Muhammad Ahmed, in the case.

Ahmed had approached the Additional District and Sessions Court seeking pre-arrest bail, citing fears of arrest. During Saturday’s hearing, his lawyer Khalid Mumtaz said Ahmed had business dealings with Mir Raza, with each operating one of two shops.

The lawyer alleged that police were harassing his client and had summoned him to the crime scene rather than the police station. He maintained that Ahmed was cooperating with investigators but feared unnecessary arrest.

Lawyer Jibran Nasir, representing Mir Raza’s family, rejected the allegation of harassment, telling the court that police had only summoned individuals for questioning. He said around 35 witnesses had so far been questioned as part of the investigation.

Nasir said Mir Raza had been murdered and expressed concern that other people linked to the case could also seek bail.

The court directed Ahmed to join the investigation regardless of whether he remained on bail and barred him from leaving the city while the investigation was ongoing. Ahmed told the court that he had appeared before police whenever summoned.

The City Court adjourned further proceedings until August 24 and directed the parties to decide at the next hearing whether to withdraw or pursue the bail application.

During the hearing, the investigating officer also told the court that investigators urgently needed the SIM card used by Mir Raza to advance the probe and obtain key evidence.

The officer said police would seek to obtain the SIM using Mir Raza’s mother’s biometric verification and national identity card in order to consolidate his mobile data and contact records.

The investigating officer also sought additional time to complete the medical and investigation reports. The Judicial Magistrate East allowed the request and directed investigators to submit a comprehensive progress report along with the medical examination report at the next hearing.

Speaking to the media afterwards, Nasir said police had been provided details of everyone Mir Raza had met and that investigators were questioning those individuals.

He said the family wanted a transparent investigation, adding that the new DSP investigating officer had only recently taken charge and that the family was not pressuring police to arrest or release any particular individual.

Nasir expressed hope that the new investigation team would conduct the probe transparently.

Mir Raza went missing from the PECHS area on July 28 after leaving home at around 4:09am in an online taxi. His body was recovered two days later outside a guesthouse in Gulistan-e-Johar in a severely deteriorated condition, with a gunshot wound.

According to the family, Mir Raza’s social media accounts had also been deactivated a day before his death.

His father has appealed for justice, saying Mir Raza was due to get married on August 30 at Baitul Mukarram Mosque in Gulshan-e-Iqbal and had been excited about starting his new life.