The Sindh government is moving to establish a Joint Investigation Team (JIT) to investigate the death of Karachi businessman Mir Raza Ali after a judicial commission reportedly concluded that he was murdered and identified serious shortcomings in the initial police investigation. The proposed team is expected to review the evidence, address investigative gaps and help determine accountability.
Sindh Home Minister Zia-ul-Hassan Lanjar announced the decision on October 23, according to the supplied report. The Sindh Home Department subsequently contacted the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), Intelligence Bureau (IB), Sindh Rangers and National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA), requesting nominations of senior officers for the proposed team.
Mir Raza Ali, a 25-year-old businessman and graduate of the Institute of Business Administration (IBA), Karachi, reportedly went missing after leaving his home in the early hours of July 28, 2026. His body was discovered the following morning in bushes in Karachi’s Gulistan-e-Jauhar area. According to the report, he had sustained a gunshot wound and showed signs of physical violence.
Police initially treated the death as a possible suicide based on the first medico-legal examination. His family rejected that conclusion and maintained that the circumstances pointed to foul play. Following concerns about the initial examination, authorities ordered a fresh post-mortem. The body was exhumed on August 8 under court orders, and the subsequent examination reportedly identified a bullet wound entering through the back, supporting the conclusion that the death was a homicide.
Amid public concern, the Sindh government ordered a judicial inquiry headed by Sindh High Court Justice Omar Sial. The commission reportedly submitted its findings to Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah on October 15 after holding 20 meetings between August 27 and October 7 and recording statements from approximately 50 witnesses.
According to the report, the commission identified procedural lapses, concerns about evidence handling and other deficiencies in the initial police investigation that could affect the prosecution. It recommended establishing a JIT to address these shortcomings and support a more comprehensive investigation.
The proposed team will be headed by DIG West Irfan Ali Baloch, with representatives from the ISI, IB, Sindh Rangers and NCCIA. The Home Department has reportedly asked the participating institutions to nominate officers of at least BS-18 rank within seven days. The final notification remains subject to approval by the chief minister.
The proposed terms of reference would authorise the team to complete the investigation and submit a charge sheet to the court in accordance with the applicable legal process. Separately, the government plans to examine the conduct of police officials involved in the early stages of the case. A committee headed by DIG Zulfiqar Ali Larik has reportedly been assigned to review officers mentioned in the commission’s findings.
The Home Department has also reportedly forwarded observations concerning the initial post-mortem to the Sindh Inspector General of Police and recommended action regarding medico-legal officer Dr Osama Sheikh. A further inquiry involving a senior Federal Investigation Agency officer has also been proposed.
Mir Raza Ali’s family has consistently maintained that he was abducted and murdered. According to the report, relatives welcomed the commission’s findings and called for a thorough investigation. As of October 24, the formal notification establishing the JIT was still awaited, while the government had begun seeking nominations from the participating institutions.
The case has renewed attention on police investigative procedures, forensic examinations and accountability in criminal investigations. The next stage will depend on the formal establishment of the JIT, its examination of the available evidence and the legal proceedings that follow.
