The investigation into the death of 25-year-old businessman and Wafflix owner Mir Raza Ali has entered a new phase after police added Sections 365, 302 and 201 of the Pakistan Penal Code to the case, constituted a new investigation team and launched a fresh probe into the circumstances surrounding his disappearance and death.
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Mir Raza had gone missing on July 28 after leaving his home in Karachi. His body was recovered the following day from bushes near in Gulistan-e-Jauhar with a gunshot wound in his chest.
According to local media reports citing police, Sections 365, 302 and 201 have now been incorporated into the case.
Police have subsequently handed the investigation to a newly constituted team headed by DIG Crime and Investigation Aamir Farooqi.
Mir Raza Case Latest Updates
The previous investigation committee, headed by SSP Samiullah Soomro, briefed the new team on the progress made during the earlier stages of the investigation. SSP East Zubair Nazir Sheikh also provided details regarding developments and evidence collected so far.
All investigative records, forensic material and other evidence gathered by the previous team have been transferred to the newly constituted team.
Acid Traces Detected in Forensic Examination
A major new development has emerged from the forensic examination, with sources claiming that traces consistent with acid were detected in parts of Mir Raza’s body.
According to local media reports, traces of acid were reportedly found in his stomach, while his lungs were also said to have been severely affected.
The report further claimed that traces consistent with acid were detected on his hands and feet.
Investigators are reportedly examining whether Mir Raza may have been forced to ingest the substance or whether the traces could have resulted from another circumstance.
The forensic examination also reportedly found traces of acid on his shirt, along with what reports described as sweat belonging to another person.
Part of the shirt around the chest area was reportedly burnt and torn.
The clothing has been sent for forensic examination along with other samples collected during the investigation. Investigators are expected to determine the nature and origin of the substances found on the clothing and whether they can be linked to another individual.
The findings remain subject to forensic verification and have not, by themselves, established how or when the alleged exposure occurred.
Police Seal Guesthouse in Gulistan-e-Jauhar
As investigators broadened their inquiry, police also sealed a guesthouse in Gulistan-e-Jauhar believed to be relevant to the case.
According to police, six employees of the guesthouse were taken into custody, while four individuals who had arrived at the premises in a Swift car were detained for questioning.
Police said a total of 19 people were being questioned in connection with the investigation.
The newly constituted investigation team is expected to question those detained and examine their possible links to the events surrounding Mir Raza’s disappearance and death.
Investigators are also expected to review available CCTV footage and other evidence from the guesthouse and surrounding areas to establish a timeline and identify anyone who may have interacted with Mir Raza.
Mir Raza’s Family Rejects Judicial Commission
Despite the government’s proposal, Mir Raza’s father, Mir Hussain, said the family did not accept the judicial commission at this stage.
Speaking to the media on Monday, he said the family had been informed about the proposal but had expressed its preference to allow the newly formed police investigation team to complete its work first.
Mir Hussain said the family had confidence in DIG Aamir Farooqi and hoped the new team would uncover the truth behind his son’s death.
He expressed confidence in Farooqi’s reputation and said he expected the investigation team to present its findings within approximately four to five days.
The father said the family would decide whether to approach another forum after reviewing the findings of the new investigation team.
He also called for the Citizens-Police Liaison Committee (CPLC) to be included in the investigation, particularly for a technical-based probe.
However, Mir Hussain also raised several questions about the investigation. He said his son’s business partner was also missing and had reportedly been questioned by police only once.
He further claimed that the family had not been informed about the investigation involving employees of the Gulistan-e-Jauhar guesthouse.
The victim’s father also questioned why CCTV footage from the guesthouse had not been made public.
It is worth noting here that the Home minister of Sindh along with Mayor Karachi and AIG police Karachi visited the family members of victim and announced plans to establish a judicial commission to oversee the investigation.
Jibran Nasir Opposes Judicial Commission at This Stage
Jibran Nasir – representing the family of the deceased – also said the family had neither requested nor consented to the formation of a judicial commission at this stage.
According to Nasir, the family believed that the newly formed investigation team should first be allowed to conduct its inquiry.
He said the family was scheduled to meet the new investigation team and urged the Sindh government not to create confusion or obstacles while the investigation was underway.
The family’s position is that the priority should remain establishing exactly what happened to Mir Raza and identifying those responsible if the evidence confirms that he was murdered.
Second Post-Mortem Changes Direction of Investigation
The latest developments follow a second post-mortem examination ordered after serious questions were raised about the original medical examination.
Mir Raza’s family had challenged the initial findings and sought an exhumation and fresh forensic examination.
An eight-member medical board subsequently examined the exhumed body and collected multiple samples, including material for DNA, chemical and forensic testing.
The second examination reportedly identified multiple wounds and injuries on different parts of Mir Raza‘s body, including the head, face, neck and chest.
A firearm entry wound was reported on the upper right side of his back, while an exit wound was identified on the left side of the chest. The injury reportedly fractured the sixth rib and was accompanied by internal bleeding.
Samples related to the firearm injuries were collected for further forensic and chemical examination. The findings prompted police to formally incorporate the murder provision into the case.
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For now, investigators have not publicly disclosed a final account of what happened to Mir Raza Ali. The forensic results, questioning of detained individuals, CCTV analysis and review of previously collected evidence are expected to determine the next direction of the case.
The family has said it will await the findings of the new investigation team before deciding whether further legal action is necessary, while authorities have maintained that the investigation will proceed on the basis of available forensic and technical evidence.
The case therefore remains active, with the newly constituted team facing the task of connecting the forensic findings with the events between Mir Raza’s disappearance on July 28 and the recovery of his body on July 29.
