'No smartwatch presentation shown to Mir family'

Details have emerged of the replies submitted by three senior Karachi police officers before the judicial commission probing the Mir Raza case.

Additional IG Karachi Azad Khan, who answered 40 questions, said he learned about the Police Surgeon's objections to the first post-mortem through the CPLC chief on August 4. He came to know about her August 3 letter through media on August 5, while it officially reached district police on August 6.

He said he directed DIG South on August 4 to contact the police surgeon, who considered the MLO report incorrect, and instructed investigation team members to meet her. The police surgeon was not available on August 4 and highlighted flaws in a TV program the same day.

Azad Khan said a team under SSP Samiullah Soomro was formed after media highlighted the case and progress was lacking. No complaint was received that witnesses were stopped from meeting the family or that irrelevant officers questioned them. He denied showing the family any presentation from Mir Raza's smartwatch and said he did not contact the health department for formation of a medical board.

DIG Aamir Farooqi, head of the second team who answered 19 questions, said no major flaw was found in previous investigations but admitted disorganisation in preserving the body and securing the crime scene, adding recovery of holster, lighter, cigarette pack and shell on first day would have been better.

DIG Dr Farrukh Ali Lanjar, who answered 27 questions, said he was DIG East on July 28-29 and was not informed about Mir Raza's father reporting him missing at Ferozabad on July 28 morning, or about delay in FIR registration.