JIT into Raza's death declined

Court directs IO to complete probe; says intervention would breach judicial limits

KARACHI:

The Sindh High Court has declined a plea by the family of Mir Raza Ali Khan seeking the formation of a joint investigation team (JIT), directing the investigating officer (IO) to continue the probe in accordance with the law.

A two-member constitutional bench, headed by Justice Adnan-ul-Karim Memon, issued its written order on the petition filed by Mir Raza's parents and sister. The family had sought the formation of a JIT, arguing that they had lost confidence in the police investigation into Mir Raza's death. Their counsel, Advocate Jibran Nasir, informed the court that the ongoing probe contained several flaws and contradictions.

The court, however, observed that directly intervening in an ongoing criminal investigation would be contrary to the principles governing its jurisdiction.

The bench directed the IO to complete the investigation in an impartial, transparent, effective and expeditious manner. The Advocate General Sindh and Prosecutor General Sindh opposed the JIT request, arguing that the SHC, in its constitutional jurisdiction, could not interfere in an ongoing criminal investigation, constitute a JIT or supervise the probe.

They pointed out that the investigation was still under way and that the final report under Section 173 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) had not yet been submitted. They termed the family's distrust of the investigation premature and based on allegations.