Commission grills police officer over Mir Raza investigation flaws

A Sindh High Court judicial commission examining the investigation into the death of Mir Raza Ali sharply questioned the officer who led the inquiry on Thursday, Independent Urdu reported. The commission told SSP Investigation Samiullah Soomro, "You ruined the case; you are also suspicious," as it reviewed delays in recording family statements and collecting evidence.

Soomro told the commission he was assigned the investigation on August 2. Asked why family statements and other key evidence were not collected in time despite his being head of the investigation team, he said he had asked SSP East Zubair Nazir on August 3 to arrange a meeting with the family.

Mir Raza Ali's father, Mir Hussain, told the commission he received no call from SSP Nazir on August 3, but his daughter Alishbah said she did receive a call and police officers met the family that evening. Soomro argued that the officers concerned were not under his administrative control but under SSP East. The commission then asked why, as head of the investigation team, he did not take action against any officer for failing to follow his instructions.

Police say Mir Raza Ali left his home on July 28 and his body was found in Gulistan-e-Jauhar on July 29. The commission questioned the basis of the initial suicide narrative given to the media, the availability of CCTV footage, and the recovery of a holster and bullet casings from the scene. Soomro denied giving a suicide statement to the media, saying he had told a journalist that, according to available evidence, there were concerns of suicide. He said statements from Mir Raza's friends and partner mentioned financial pressure, the medico-legal officer's statement was recorded on August 3, and 30 CCTV footages had been obtained by August 2.

Family lawyer Jibran Nasir told the commission that some details attributed to Soomro in a news report had not been recorded at that time; he said a statement from Sarim was recorded on August 17. At the end of the proceedings, Nasir submitted a request to summon the Additional IG, DIGs and other police officers in their personal capacity.

A focal person for the Sindh government told the commission that the government also wants the proceedings completed soon. The commission said it expected proceedings to be finished by Monday, after which it would begin preparing its report.