Mir Raza Ali murder probe digs deeper into DVR, digital trail

The new committee visits the crime scene with RRF officials for evidence gathering

The investigation team probing the murder of Mir Raza Ali, the 25-year-old owner of the dessert brand Wafflix, held its second meeting at PS Ferozabad on Thursday, questioning the investigation officer (IO) and reviewing digital evidence, including the DVR reportedly kept in the custody of the SHO since the grisly discovery of the body.

Ali, 25, was allegedly kidnapped from PECHS before his body was found in bushes near a wedding hall in Gulistan-e-Johar on July 29. The case had initially been surrounded by uncertainty over whether he had been murdered or died by suicide. However, the findings of the second post-mortem consolidated his family’s longstanding claim that he had been assassinated. The police probe is facing constant scrutiny by the public because of earlier lapses that were also admitted by the Sindh Inspector General of police.

According to the sources, the nearly four-hour meeting was chaired by DIG Aamir Farooqi and attended by the five members of the newly constituted investigation committee, along with two additional members.

The team questioned the IO about various aspects of the case and sought details about the DVR. The 21 suspects currently in custody were also questioned, while digital evidence was discussed in detail. The committee head assigned specific tasks to its members regarding different aspects of the investigation.

Read More: DNA confirms recovered body is Mir Raza Ali

The team also reviewed statements of Ali's family members. A Citizen Police Liaison Committee (CPLC) technical team assisting the investigation was present during the meeting.

Sources further revealed that statements were recorded from police personnel who had reached the crime scene shortly after receiving information about the discovery of Ali’s body. The team also recorded statements from former SHOs of Ferozabad and Gulistan-e-Johar police stations.

Police personnel ranging from the mobile officer on duty on the day of the incident to officers of DSP rank were also questioned and their statements recorded. Immediately after the meeting, members of the investigation team visited the crime scene to examine the location and gather further evidence.

The team also visited the spot where Ali had reportedly thrown his mobile phone and spoke to two gardeners working at the nursery. The 15 Madadgar personnel who were among the first police officials to reach the crime scene were also present during the site visit.

Also Read: Ride-hailing driver recounts Mir Raza's journey from home to Gulistan-e-Johar before murder

DIG Aamir Farooqi, who heads the investigation committee, declined to share details of the probe. “The investigation is still underway. Details will be shared with the media later,” he said.

Raza’s business partner’s pre-arrest bail approved

Earlier in the day, Muhammad Ahmed, the business partner of Ali, approached an Additional District and Sessions Court seeking pre-arrest bail in the murder case, which was granted.

He filed an application for interim pre-arrest bail before the court, which granted him bail against a surety of Rs100,000. During the hearing, Ahmed’s counsel, Advocate Khalid Mumtaz, told the court that his client was a business partner of the deceased.

“My client was Ali’s business partner. Ahmed operated one shop while Ali ran the other,” the counsel submitted.

He said police were also including Ahmed in the investigation and that his client feared arrest despite cooperating with investigators. The court directed Ahmed as well as the investigating officer to appear before it on August 15.

On August 9, Sindh police had constituted a new investigation team comprising five members after contradictions emerged between the two post-mortem report findings submitted on July 29 and August 8, respectively.

Farooqui was appointed chairman of the five-member team, while Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Rapid Response Force (RRF) Alfalah Karachi Syed Muhammad Ali Raza was notified as its secretary. Meanwhile, Superintendent of Police (SP) Investigation Korangi Qais Khan, SP Investigation Central Anam Tajjamul, and Station Investigation Officer (SIO) PS Zaman Town Police Inspector Ch Ghazanfar were designated as members.

According to an official order issued by AIG Operations Bashir Ahmed Brohi, the new team was tasked with supervising the investigation into FIR No 795/2026, registered under sections 365 (Abduction), 302 (Punishment for intentional murder) and 201 (Causing evidence disappearance) of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC) at Ferozabad police station, District East.

The notification allowed the team to co-opt any officer to assist the probe.

Also Read: Sindh defers judicial probe into Mir Raza killing after family backs new police team

A day later, Hyderabad Rapid Response Force Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Sirajuddin Lashari and DIG South Zone Office Inspector (investigation) Muhammad Ali were co-opted as team members by DIG Farooqui.