Family members and Edhi Foundation volunteers on Tuesday appeared before the judicial commission investigating the death of young businessman Mir Raza Ali, providing details about his disappearance, the family’s efforts to trace him and the recovery of his body.
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The commission, headed by Sindh High Court Justice Omar Sial, questioned Mir Raza’s parents and sister about the events surrounding his disappearance and the subsequent police investigation.
Family Recounts Mir Raza’s Disappearance
Mir Raza’s father, Mir Hussain, was summoned to the rostrum and questioned about when the family first became aware that his son was missing. He said his wife was better placed to explain the circumstances.
Mir Raza’s mother told the commission that she received a call from his friend Haitham at around 4:14am, informing her that Mir Raza had deleted his social media accounts. His fiancée also contacted the family and said he was not responding to her messages.
Mir Raza Ali Case – Latest Updates
The family checked his room and found his keys and most of his belongings still there, but Mir Raza was missing. His friends Razzaq, Shehry and Kazim later arrived and joined the search.
His father contacted police helpline 15 and provided Mir Raza’s photograph and details. The family also searched locations where he regularly played paddle.
His sister said they attempted to trace his location through iCloud and his Apple Watch, but were unable to access the information. The Apple Watch and other belongings remained at home, while keys to his Bahadurabad office were also reportedly missing.
Family Raises Questions Over Friends conduct
The commission also questioned the family about financial transactions made after Mir Raza disappeared.
His sister said Mir’s business partner Ahmed contacted her about a weekly payment and later sent another reminder. She told him that Mir Raza would return and that he should discuss the matter directly with him.
The family also raised concerns about the conduct of some of Mir Raza’s friends who arrived at the house after his disappearance.
According to his mother, five young men – Abdullah, Ahmed, Haitham, Rafi and Wasi – arrived at around 2am. They allegedly claimed that CCTV footage showed Mir Raza taking a security guard’s gun before returning home.
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The family said CCTV footage showed Mir Raza parking a vehicle and taking a gun. However, searches of the house and a rental car did not uncover any weapon.
Mir Hussain told the commission that he found it unusual that some of his son’s friends appeared more concerned about financial matters than his disappearance.
The family also said a partnership agreement belonging to Mir Raza went missing after some of his friends searched his room. His mother told the commission that she had personally seen the agreement in a drawer of his study table before it disappeared.
Family Questions Police Response
The family described its efforts to obtain CCTV footage independently. According to them, one camera showed a white Alto passing in front of their house, while another captured Mir Raza walking outside at around 4:08am.
Mir Hussain further told the commission that CCTV footage showed his son getting into a vehicle that travelled at high speed on the wrong side of the road towards Khalid Bin Walid Road and later towards Lake Park.
The family said it repeatedly attempted to trace the vehicle’s registration number and Mir Raza’s whereabouts before approaching police.
Also Read: Final post-mortem report confirms Mir Raza Ali died due to firearm injury
Mir Hussain alleged that police initially refused to register an FIR, suggesting that his son may have left home after becoming upset. He said police instead offered to circulate an entry through the wireless system.
According to the family, the FIR was eventually registered at around 4:30pm after a relative in Islamabad contacted the SHO.
The father also alleged that although police sent a person named Nauman to obtain CCTV footage, no footage was collected in the family’s presence.
Edhi Volunteers Describe Body Recovery
The commission later summoned Edhi volunteers Mohsin and Javed, who testified about the discovery and recovery of Mir Raza’s body.
The volunteers said they received information from their centre and reached the location before 1pm. Police were already present when they arrived.
They said they accessed an elevated and difficult-to-reach area where they found the body. After straightening it, they noticed what appeared to be a gunshot wound and informed police.
The volunteers said Mir Raza’s face was severely disfigured and that the location was not easily accessible. They required assistance from two nursery workers to bring the body down.
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They also said a police representative arrived at the scene with a biometric device. When questioned about the location, the volunteers told the commission that it could not easily be accessed by an ordinary person.
The volunteers said they initially suspected the deceased might have been involved in drug use but did not notice anything suspicious at the scene.
The commission also asked whether police contacted the Edhi volunteers again after the body was recovered. The volunteers said police never contacted them again.
