Mir Raza Ali case: Sindh government moves to form JIT after judicial commission rules out suicide

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 criticised the initial police investigation for serious shortcomings.

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 criticised the initial police investigation for serious shortcomings.

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 to join 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. The report states that he had suffered 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. However his family rejected that conclusion maintaining that the circumstances indicated 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.

The Sindh government sought a judicial inquiry following public concern over the case. Justice Omar Sial of the Sindh High Court headed the commission which reportedly submitted its findings to Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah on October 15.

According to the supplied report, the commission conducted 20 meetings between August 27 and October 7 and recorded statements from approximately 50 witnesses.

Its findings reportedly described the police investigation as a serious failure identifying procedural lapses concerns about evidence handling and shortcomings that could affect the prosecution.

The commission recommended forming a JIT, describing it as a suitable way to address the investigative deficiencies and establish accountability.

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 relevant 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 subject to the applicable legal process.

Separately the government plans to investigate 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 examine 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 rather than having died by suicide. According to the report relatives have welcomed the commission’s findings and sought a thorough investigation.

As of October 24, the proposed JIT notification was still awaited while the government had begun the process of seeking nominations from participating institutions.

The case has brought renewed attention to 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.