Home dept notifies judicial commission

Published
0

KARACHI: Sindh Home Department on Monday issued a notification establishing a single-member Commission of Inquiry comprising Justice Omar Sial of Sindh High Court, in pursuance of a nomination by the SHC, with specified ToRs (terms of reference) ranging from examining circumstances leading to the death of young entrepreneur Mir Raza Ali to determining possible negligence by medical and police officials during the investigation.

Raza had gone missing from his home in PECHS, Block-2, on July 28, and his body bearing gunshot wounds was found in bushes in a hilly area opposite the University of Karachi in Gulistan-i-Jauhar the next day. Ferozabad police have registered a case on the complaint of the victim’s father, Mir Husain Ali, under sections 365, 302 and 201 of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC).

According to the notification issued by Additional Chief Secretary (Home) Muhammad Iqbal Memon, the commission formed under section 3 (1) of the Sindh Tribunals of Inquiry Ordinance, 1969 “would examine the facts and circumstances leading to, and surrounding the death of Mir Raza Ali and determine whether the investigation is being conducted impartially and in accordance with the law and identify any investigative angle or evidence requiring further investigation”.

Other ToRs included determining whether any police officer, medico-legal officer or any other official committed negligence, dereliction of duty, professional misconduct, suppression/manipulation of evidence or any unlawful act, omission or cover-up. The SHC judge-led commission would make recommendations for further investigation, forensic analysis or legal/departmental action.

The commission has powers under the relevant laws for summoning and enforcing the attendance of witnesses, examining them on oath and requiring the discovery and production of documents and other records.

All departments, agencies, offices, officials and individuals have been directed to extend full cooperation to the commission and furnish such records, information, and assistance as may be required by it from time to time.

The commission of inquiry would likely submit its findings and recommendations to the Sindh government within 30 days.

The Home Department shall provide requisite secretariat support to the commission.

Published in Dawn, August 25th, 2026

Opinion

Editorial

Muddled hierarchy
Updated 15 Nov, 2026

Muddled hierarchy

The jurisdiction of the two courts and a mechanism for settling disputes between them should be spelt out in law, not left to judges to fight over.
Growing crisis
Updated 15 Nov, 2026

Growing crisis

Calling population growth a national emergency is easy. Ensuring that the response reaches the people who need it is the real challenge.
Organised rackets
15 Nov, 2026

Organised rackets

ON the International Day against Transnational Organised Crime, observed today, Pakistan finds itself in a tight...
Referendum talk
Updated 14 Nov, 2026

Referendum talk

Unless the PPP is deliberately using Sindh as a bargaining chip, it should issue a clarification with a clear, consistent position on new administrative units, not one tailored to protect its home turf.
Mineral wealth
Updated 14 Nov, 2026

Mineral wealth

Minerals should not be presented as a solution to Pakistan’s long-term economic difficulties. The aim should be to build an industrial base rather than export raw materials.
Late diagnosis
14 Nov, 2026

Late diagnosis

AS we mark World Diabetes Day today, Pakistan faces a troubling question: how many people are living with diabetes...