The judicial commission hearing into the Mir Raza case raised sharp questions over police investigation lapses, CCTV footage, witness statements, geofencing, crypto accounts and other key evidence, with officials pressed to explain why crucial material was not properly secured or analysed. The commission also objected to the circulation of Mir Raza’s private chats on social media, calling it a serious matter, while directing action against those responsible. Police and related representatives were asked to account for missing footage, suspicious vehicles, financial trails and the handling of forensic material, as the inquiry moved toward its next stage.
Commission challenges the probe
The commission repeatedly criticised the quality of the investigation and said several important records were either incomplete or not effectively obtained. It questioned the police over CCTV footage, suspicious vehicles and the missing footage from Masjid Khizra, and noted that these gaps had weakened the overall inquiry. Concerns were also raised about the preservation of the crime scene, the possible loss of evidence and alleged lapses in supervision by senior police officers.
Witness statements and forensic gaps
DSP Siraj Lashari, the investigating officer, faced tough questions over the 161 witness statements, their authenticity and the method used in the investigation. The commission pointed to deficiencies in those statements and asked how they were verified. It also raised issues around the Apple Watch, mobile phone and forensic reports, saying the required complete information and records were not provided on time and that data could not be recovered from the phone.
Questions were also raised about the role of Dr Usama and contradictions in the post-mortem reports. The commission said these discrepancies may have been used to build a particular narrative and even questioned the formation of a super medical board. It also pressed for further inquiry into Ali Shah’s role, foreign travel, family links and the suspicious vehicles mentioned during the proceedings.
Financial trail under scrutiny
The commission said the investigation into crypto accounts needed to be made more effective, particularly in light of transactions of around Rs90 million. It stressed the need to obtain complete financial records, including the profit-and-loss ledger and crypto-related documents, and directed that the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency be contacted in this regard. CPLC’s representative told the commission that the organisation had been involved from the first day, and that geofencing and call detail record analysis had been carried out, but no clear suspicious activity had emerged.
| Key issue | Commission’s concern |
|---|---|
| CCTV and missing footage | Important video records, including footage from Masjid Khizra, were not fully or effectively obtained |
| Witness statements | Questions were raised over 161 statements, their authenticity and the investigation method |
| Crypto accounts | Transactions of around Rs90 million required fuller financial tracing and records |
| Mobile and Apple Watch data | Complete records were not provided on time, and phone data could not be recovered |
| Social media chats | Private chats going viral were described as a serious matter, prompting calls for action |
Next phase of inquiry
The commission expressed dissatisfaction with the police investigation as a whole, saying the manner of the probe, the conduct of some officers and the absence of action against certain officials had all raised serious concerns. At the same time, it noted positively that the family had been engaged cooperatively and had been given opportunities to ask questions. By the end of the hearing, the commission announced that it would present its report and recommendations in the next phase, and also recommended additional salaries for the Sindh government focal person and staff working on the case.
