Karachi police book around 100 protesters seeking justice for Mir Raza

No arrests confirmed; police say repeated blockades of Shahrah-e-Faisal caused severe difficulties for citizens

The Karachi police on Thursday registered a case against around 100 protesters following a late-night demonstration and road blockade at Nursery Stop on Shahrah-e-Faisal, where participants were demanding justice for slain waffle chain owner Mir Raza.

According to the first information report (FIR), Karachi police officers witnessed the protest at around 12:30am on Aug 27. A case was registered an hour later, at 1:30am, against 20 named individuals and around 80 unidentified protesters.

Around 20 protesters have been nominated in the case.

Read: Judicial commission begins proceedings in Mir Raza Ali murder case, issues notices to parties

According to the FIR, the protesters were carrying sticks, placards and banners bearing slogans and demands seeking justice for Raza.

The protesters allegedly blocked the road leading from Saddar towards the airport on Sharea Faisal, disrupting the movement of vehicles and pedestrians.

Police said officers present at the scene directed the protesters to clear the road and disperse. However, the protesters allegedly refused to comply and continued their protest while keeping the road blocked.

Raza, 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 murdered. The police probe is facing constant scrutiny by the public because of earlier lapses that were also admitted by the Sindh Police chief.

According to the police, citizens had been facing severe difficulties due to the repeated blocking of Sharea Faisal.

Police have not so far confirmed the arrest of any of the individuals nominated in the case.