KARACHI: The Sindh High Court (SHC) has directed authorities to ensure a transparent, impartial and swift investigation into the high-profile murder case of young businessman Mir Raza.
The court issued the directions in its written order while disposing of a petition seeking the formation of a joint investigation team (JIT) to probe the case.
A two-member bench announced its reserved verdict on Wednesday. The seven-page written order was authored by Justice Mohammad Jafar Raza.
According to the order, the investigation must be conducted in a completely impartial and fair manner and completed as soon as possible.
The investigating officer assured the court that every possible effort would be made to conclude the probe promptly. The officer would use all available legal resources and could seek assistance from other law enforcement or investigative agencies if required, the court said.
The high court also clarified that the applicants had the right to use all lawful and legal means to ensure a transparent and fair investigation.
Mir Raza’s family had filed the petition on August 24, seeking the formation of a JIT to investigate his death.
Meanwhile, the judicial commission constituted to examine the Mir Raza case has summoned Shahrah-e-Faisal Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) Arshad Afridi and Ferozabad Station House Officer (SHO) Adeel Afzal on September 3.
The commission has also issued notices to Mir Raza’s business partners, Muhammad Ahmed Bharday and Abdullah Bharday.
Razzaq and Haitham have also been directed to appear before the commission at 11am on September 3.
Separately, important CCTV footage has emerged in the high-profile case, showing details of Mir Raza’s movements shortly before his death.
The footage shows Mir Raza travelling in a white Suzuki Alto through different locations. A black-tinted Suzuki Swift can also be seen following his vehicle.
According to the footage, Mir Raza stopped his car some distance from a guest house and continued on foot.
At 4:33am, he got out of the Alto and started walking. Shortly afterwards, the black-tinted Swift stopped outside the guest house.
Five men got out of the vehicle and entered the guest house, according to the CCTV footage.
Investigators said police and intelligence agencies had questioned the people travelling in the black-tinted vehicle.
However, sources said the questioning had so far failed to yield any significant breakthrough in the case. Further investigation into different aspects of the case is under way.
Mir Raza went missing from Ferozabad on July 28. His body was found near Gulistan-e-Jauhar the following day.
The incident was initially treated as a suicide. However, his family rejected that conclusion and raised concerns over the circumstances of his death.
Following the family’s objections, a court-ordered exhumation and findings from a second post-mortem examination indicating injuries, Section 302 of the Pakistan Penal Code, relating to murder, was added to the case.
Mir Raza’s family has maintained from the outset that he was murdered and repeatedly expressed concerns over the investigation.
The Sindh government later decided to form a judicial commission to ensure a transparent and impartial probe after questions emerged over the investigation and post-mortem findings.
Investigators continue to face challenges, including the recovery of the weapon allegedly used in the crime, missing or compromised evidence and determining the role of police personnel in the case.
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