KARACHI: The Sindh High Court (SHC) has issued a written order on a petition filed by the family of the late Mir Raza, seeking the formation of a Joint Investigation Team (JIT) for an independent probe into his disappearance and death. In this regard, the court has issued notices to the Advocate General Sindh, Prosecutor General Sindh, and Deputy Attorney General, directing them to assist the bench at the next hearing scheduled for August 31. The petitioner’s counsel argued that the initial police investigation was heavily compromised due to delayed statement recordings, mishandled electronic evidence, and a rushed, premature “suicide” narrative. They pointed out that a Special Medical Board’s post-mortem and chemical analysis reports directly contradicted the initial suicide theory and supported the findings following the exhumation.
Furthermore, serious allegations were raised against the former investigative team for mishandling and destroying evidence while failing to identify any suspects, alongside noting that the current team has also requested additional time to submit the challan. Addressing the core legal aspects, the SHC is currently reviewing its jurisdiction to determine whether the court possesses the authority to directly order the formation of a JIT, oversee or alter the ongoing investigation process, or legally intervene without a formal gazette notification under the Sindh Tribunals of Inquiry Ordinance, 1969.
