Court seeks answers on JIT probe into Mir Raza case
Mir Raza Ali, owner of the popular dessert shop Wafflix, whose body was found in Gulistan-e-Jauhar after he was allegedly kidnapped from PECHS. — SCREENGRAB/ Youtube
A constitutional bench of the Sindh High Court (SHC) has issued a written order in a petition seeking the formation of a joint investigation team (JIT) to probe the disappearance and death of Mir Raza Ali.
Mir Raza Ali, owner of dessert brand Wafflix, went missing on July 28 and his body was found in Gulistan-e-Jauhar the following day. Police initially described the death as suicide, but a subsequent post-mortem examination indicated that he had been murdered.
The development came a day after the Sindh Home Department notified the formation of a judicial commission to probe the death of the 25-year-old. Justice Umar Sial was appointed its head following his nomination by the chief justice of the SHC.
In its order, the constitutional bench raised several questions, including whether it could directly order the formation of a JIT and whether it had the authority to interfere in, alter or supervise an investigation and the submission of its report.
The bench also questioned whether intervention was permissible under the Sindh Tribunals of Inquiry Ordinance, 1969 without a gazette notification.
The petitioners alleged that investigators had failed to properly secure the crime scene and raised serious concerns over the conduct of the previous investigation team. They subsequently sought the formation of a JIT comprising officers with no previous connection to the case for an independent and comprehensive probe.
The court issued notices to all parties for the next hearing and directed them to assist the bench. The next hearing has been fixed for August 31.
According to the petition, a case concerning Mir Raza's disappearance and death was registered at Ferozabad police station. The petitioners alleged that the investigation was compromised because the crime scene was not secured in time and witnesses' statements were not recorded promptly. They also alleged that electronic devices were not properly examined and that a suicide narrative was adopted and promoted prematurely.