KARACHI: Lawyer Jibran Nasir has accused police of serious negligence in the investigation into Mir Raza’s alleged murder. He also questioned the handling of key evidence and demanded a criminal inquiry against three police officers.
Raza, 25, reportedly disappeared from PECHS before authorities found his body in bushes near a wedding hall in Gulistan-e-Johar. Police initially faced questions over whether someone murdered Raza or whether he died by suicide. However, a second post-mortem reportedly supported his family’s claim that someone killed him.
Lawyer Questions Handling of Key Evidence
Speaking at a press conference, Nasir said University of Karachi reports indicated that someone had administered a local anaesthetic to Raza. He said the findings also placed the body’s age at around 20 to 22 hours.
Nasir argued that the findings suggested Raza may have spent around 12 hours in captivity before his death. He also questioned the handling of evidence collected during the investigation.
The lawyer claimed police took Raza’s smartwatch from his family three days after his death. He said SSP Samiullah Soomro kept the device for eight days and called the delay “criminal conduct”.
Nasir also alleged that the SHO carried the guesthouse DVR around, while police sent Raza’s mobile phone to the Counter Terrorism Department.
He described the investigation as an “extreme” example of negligence. He further alleged that certain actions aimed to protect those responsible for Raza’s death.
Nasir Demands Criminal Probe
Nasir called for departmental and criminal investigations against SSP Zubair Nazir Sheikh, SSP Samiullah Soomro and SHO Adeel Afzal.
He also alleged that the suspects knew where cameras did not cover the area. According to Nasir, they also knew how to administer an injection and erase biometric records. He raised concerns that someone may have hacked Raza’s mobile phone.
The lawyer further said police found acid bottles near the water board office after receiving information about them. He urged authorities to record statements from Raza’s family, saying he had repeatedly requested the police to do so.
Meanwhile, Raza’s father, Mir Hassan, accused police of pressuring his son’s friends to support a suicide narrative. He said the friends had rejected that possibility and believed Raza could not have taken his own life.
Mir Hassan also claimed police had not provided the family with CCTV footage from the guesthouse despite repeated requests. He alleged that the delay allowed the suspected killers to escape.
The family has renewed its demand for a transparent investigation. It wants authorities to establish the circumstances surrounding Raza’s death and hold those responsible accountable.
