Raza commission flags discrepancies in police record

Justice Sial bars police from submitting further documents

KARACHI:

The Judicial Commission investigating the death of Mir Raza Ali on Tuesday raised questions over discrepancies in police records and witness statements, with the presiding judge, Justice Umar Sial, observing that several witnesses had disputed statements attributed to them by police investigators.

The commission, headed by Justice Umar Sial of the SHC, also directed its registrar not to obtain any further documents from police, saying there were concerns that witness statements had been altered.

The commission questioned Inspector Muhammad Ali over the collection of Mir Raza's post-mortem report. The officer said he had visited JPMC to obtain the report for the investigation team but had not received it. He said the report had been received by police on Aug 3, although he could not provide a receipt.

Sherry, Manager of the Bahadurabad branch of Wafflix, told the commission that he had worked under Raza for two years and considered his treatment of employees very good. He said the branch's daily sales had fallen from around Rs130,000 to Rs70,000-75,000 during the last month and a half.

Justice Sial remarked that Sherry was the third witness to say his statement was recorded on Aug 3, whereas police records showed Aug 2.

Sherry disputed several details allegedly included in his police statement, saying he had never told investigators about information linked to Raza's smart watch or certain financial matters. He said that if such details appeared in the statement, they had been added by police.

Sherry alleged that police had abused him during questioning and asked him about Raza's mental health, creditors and drug use. He said his phone was taken along with its password but no formal seizure documentation was prepared. Asked what he believed had happened to Raza, Sherry said he did not believe he had committed suicide.