The family of deceased entrepreneur Mir Raza Ali has opposed the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) examining his smart watch, with lawyer Jibran Nasir seeking a forensic analysis of the device by the Punjab Forensic Science Agency (PFSA).
Nasir has said that the smart watch remained with the former head of the investigation committee for several days before being handed to the NCCIA on Wednesday.
He stated that the family did not want the device examined by the NCCIA and instead wanted it analysed at the PFSA, a forensic facility operating under the Punjab Home Department.
The lawyer also raised concerns about possible tampering because the watch had remained in the former committee head’s possession for several days.
Meanwhile, the new investigation team, headed by Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Amir Farooqi, has written four letters to the NCCIA seeking forensic examination of the smart watch, according to investigation sources.
The team has also requested details of Ali’s social media and other digital accounts, the sources said.
The investigation team is due to hold its second meeting at Ferozabad police station, after which it will revisit the crime scene and continue its inquiry, according to the sources.
Ali, an IBA graduate and businessman, went missing on July 28 and was found dead in Gulistan-e-Jauhar the following day. His father has maintained that his son was murdered and rejected suggestions that he died by suicide.
A fresh post-mortem was conducted after the family questioned the initial medico-legal findings. The new examination found a gunshot injury to Ali’s back along with other injuries, while a chemical report detected acid particles and gunshot-residue elements on his shirt, according to the information provided.
Police have said blood tests detected sedatives and that DNA results matched Ali’s parents.
A court has set August 15 as the deadline for submission of the investigation report.
