• Home minister says decision ‘deferred for time being’ after victim’s family expresses confidence in new investigation team
• Previous probe body hands over case record, evidence to new team
• Guest house near crime scene in Jauhar ‘sealed’

KARACHI: The Sindh government deferred its decision to seek a judicial commission to investigate the murder of young businessman Mir Raza Ali after the victim’s family said they had made no such demand and had faith in the new investigation team, which began its work on Monday.

On Sunday, Sindh Home Minister Zia Lanjar had announced that the provincial government would move the Sindh High Court for formation of a judicial commission to investigate the Mir Raza murder case.

However, Advocate Jibran Nasir, representing the victim’s family, said in a social media post that they had neither requested nor consented to any judicial commission, nor did they believe one was required at this stage.

Similar views were also shared by Raza’s father, Mir Hussain Ali, while talking to reporters.

On Monday, the home minister took to X and stated that Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab had spoken to Raza’s family, who had expressed “confidence in the new police team” constituted to investigate the case and was of the view that it should conduct the probe.

“Therefore, the decision of establishing a judicial commission has been deferred for the time being,” Mr Lanjar said.

Probe body meets Raza’s family, collects evidence

The five-member new team, headed by DIG Amir Farooqui, began its probe on Monday as it met the victim’s family and obtained investigation record from the previous team.

When contacted, DIG Farooqui told Dawn that the investigation team heard the family and their lawyer, Jibran Nasir, in detail.

“Police will keep the family informed of all steps being taken to solve the case,” he said.

Sources told Dawn that the investigators asked the family to provide details of the deceased’s ‘business relations’, which they would also verify. If any suspicious person is identified, the investigators would interrogate them as well, they added.

The sources said Advocate Nasir demanded the inclusion of two police inspectors — Siraj Lashari from Hyderabad and Mohammed Ali of Karachi’s South district — in the investigation team and he was assured that a notification to this effect would be issued soon.

Also, the previous probe body head, SSP Dr Samiullah Soomro handed over all material and evidence to the new team.

Guest house in Jauhar ‘sealed’

Separately, the police have sealed a guest house in Gulistan-i-Jauhar, which is located close to the place from where Raza’s bullet-riddled body was found on July 29.

They also allowed selected reporters access to the guest house, where a teenage employee reportedly told the media that six workers had been detained by the police.

He also claimed that three employees had “fled out of fear” on the day when Raza’s father, accompanied by a police team, reached the guest house. He said later two of them surrendered to the police.

According to media reports, traces of acid were found on Raza’s hands and feet, while his shirt reportedly carried traces of acid and another person’s sweat.

However, sources close to the new investigation team said they could not confirm these reports, as they had not yet received an official laboratory report.

Regarding the guest house, they said that they have neither sealed the guest house nor detained anyone for interrogation so far.

However, the team is likely to visit the crime scene very soon.

New team will consider all available evidence: IGP

In Sukkur, Inspector General of Police (IGP) Javed Alam Odho told reporters that the investigation into the Raza murder case should be conducted in a better manner, expressing hope that the new investigation team would consider all available evidence.

He said the government, public and police were all concerned about the case and stressed the need to examine it “with an open mind and open heart”.

He said action had been taken against officers found guilty of misconduct and negligence during the investigation.

The police chief said the controversy surrounding Raza’s murder had been fuelled by “miscommunication”.

“I have strictly instructed the entire investigation team to keep communication open and transparent this time, whether with the deceased’s family or the media,” he said.

Mir Raza, the owner of eatery Wafflix, had gone missing on July 28, and his body was found a day later in bushes in Gulistan-i-Jauhar.

Published in Dawn, August 11th, 2026