THE botched case of a young Karachi businessman, Mir Raza Ali, who died under suspicious circumstances, took a new turn recently when his parents alleged kidnapping, torture and murder, while the police, at least initially, leaned towards suicide. The police surgeon questioned the post-mortem report on television; the deceased’s father filed a plea seeking exhumation of the body and the constitution of a medico-legal board. A day after the court’s permission, exhumation was postponed after the family objected to the sudden reconstitution of the board.

Regrettably, reports submitted by medico-legal surgeons have been disputed with disturbing regularity in the country. Criminal cases rest on their findings. Any loopholes can bury justice for victims and their kin. Yet, not only have these assessments often been flawed, pressure is exercised to have the evidence altered. An inaccurate record of a victim’s wounds hinders the dispensation of justice. Medical examiners in such a critical area cannot cut corners. Moreover, forensic personnel in the country often falter in reconstructing the physical attributes of offenders or victims, and find it difficult to recreate a crime scene accurately. In Pakistan, many of them barely meet the minimum qualification for the task. Evidence-gathering should be strengthened by organised databanks in all the provinces to facilitate speedy collation. Meanwhile, specialised education should be ensured for all police officers involved in investigations and medico-legal cases. All big hospitals should have their own forensic units. Health experts have long demanded modernised medico-legal services with advanced verification methods, upgraded apparatus and enhanced techniques. Post-mortem reports, or medico-legal certificates determine the course of investigation and prosecution. Flawed documentation shields criminals and punishes the innocent. Systemic reform needs political commitment. The government is not oblivious to the faults in our system. It must commit to closing the gap.

Published in Dawn, August 8th, 2026