Mir Raza murder probe: JIT seals business partner’s food outlet, seizes licenced pistol

KARACHI: A joint investigation team (JIT) probing the murder of young businessman Mir Raza Ali has sealed a food outlet in North Nazimabad belonging to his business partner, Ahmed, and seized a licenced pistol and business records, police said on Thursday.

According to a statement issued by West Zone Deputy Inspector General of Police Irfan Ali Baloch, the West district police raided the outlet and took the weapon into custody. The pistol has been sent for further forensic examination, while the restaurant branch was sealed and its relevant records seized.

The JIT is examining all aspects of the case and reviewing the evidence and records collected during the investigation, the statement said, adding that further inquiries were under way.

Mir Raza, a 25-year-old businessman and student of the Institute of Business Administration (IBA), went missing after leaving his home in Karachi’s PECHS area in the early hours of July 28. His bullet-riddled body was found the following day in bushes near Shahi Qila Ground in Gulistan-i-Jauhar.

He had been running a dessert business, Wafflix, for around five years, with outlets in Bahadurabad and North Nazimabad. His father, Mir Husain Ali, had said the family knew of no enmity involving his son.

The initial police investigation treated the death as a possible suicide, a conclusion challenged by the family. On their request, the body was exhumed on August 8 for a second post-mortem examination.

The subsequent medical findings confirmed that Mir Raza had died from a firearm injury to the chest, with the bullet entering through his back and exiting from the front, ruling out suicide.

The investigation has since been marked by changes in investigating officers, questions over the handling of evidence and a judicial inquiry into the police response.

A one-member judicial commission headed by Sindh High Court Justice Omar Sial examined the circumstances surrounding the death and the conduct of the initial investigation.

Its report, submitted to the Sindh chief minister on October 15, concluded that Mir Raza had been murdered and strongly criticised the police investigation, identifying shortcomings in evidence collection, medical reporting and the handling of the case.

The commission recommended a fresh investigation through a JIT. The Sindh government constituted the team on October 24 under DIG West Zone Irfan Ali Baloch, with senior representatives of the Inter-Services Intelligence, Intelligence Bureau, Pakistan Rangers Sindh and the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency also to be included.

The latest raid follows the JIT’s first meeting, during which Mir Raza’s father recorded his statement and family members presented their concerns and some evidence to the investigators.

Earlier, a judicial magistrate granted the newly appointed investigation officer, DSP Fareed Ahmed Khan, an additional 10 days to complete the investigation and submit the challan.

The officer told the court that he had received a case file containing more than 1,100 pages for review. The court had also sought an explanation from the JIT head over the delay in submitting the investigation report.

Police have previously examined the victim’s business dealings, financial records, phone data and CCTV footage. An interim police report submitted in September said investigators had interviewed 63 witnesses but had yet to identify a suspect or make a breakthrough.

Digital evidence, including Mir Raza’s Apple Watch, mobile phone and CCTV footage, had been sent for forensic examination.

The circumstances surrounding his disappearance and killing, and the identity of those responsible, remain under investigation.