Police in Karachi have identified a charred body found inside a car near Zero Point in Surjani Town as a missing man from Muzaffargarh, overturning their initial belief that the victim was businessman Zeeshan Naz, prompting an investigation into what they now allege was a staged death.
According to the investigators, forensic analysis and biometric verification established that the deceased was Qurban, a resident of Muzaffargarh who had been missing for a long time. Police now believe Zeeshan Naz allegedly orchestrated a plan to fake his own death.
The woman who had identified the body as her husband’s has been taken into custody for questioning, police have said, after investigators concluded that the identification formed part of what they described as a staged murder plot.
Police said Qurban had two wives. Investigators believe the vehicle was set alight using a gas cylinder, but the car’s air conditioning system prevented the fire from spreading completely, leaving the body only partially burnt.
The case initially appeared to establish the death of Zeeshan Naz- a rice trader- who, according to police, owed more than Rs55 crore to between 60 and 70 people.
Investigators have stated that they recovered a wallet containing more than Rs45,000 in cash and a national identity card bearing Zeeshan Naz’s name from inside the vehicle. The car was also registered in his name.
Zeeshan Naz’s personal mobile phone was recovered from the vehicle. The phone contained a video message in which he stated that none of his family members were involved in his business affairs.
Authorities have said that Zeeshan Naz’s wife initially identified the burnt body as that of her husband. However, following forensic examination, investigators now believe the businessman allegedly attempted to fake his death to mislead investors.
Police said the investigation is going on as officers continue to determine the circumstances surrounding Qurban’s death and the alleged conspiracy.
