Slain Karachi entrepreneur Mir Raza’s parents have asked Chief Minister of Sindh Murad Ali Shah to directly oversee the investigation into their son’s murder and order the immediate suspension of police officers involved in the original probe.
The request was made in a 22-page letter sent to the chief minister on Wednesday through the family’s lawyer Jibran Nasir.
The letter also sought a departmental inquiry into the previous investigation team, alleging that its handling of the case had compromised evidence and continued to promote a suicide narrative.
“The investigation continues to suffer,” the letter said, alleging that the current team remained focused on “perpetuating the false narrative of death of the deceased by suicide”.
The family criticised the Sindh home minister, inspector general of police and the current investigation team for failing to take action against officers involved in the original probe.
It alleged that allowing the officers to continue working in their posts posed risks of witness or evidence tampering.
The letter cited 24 unanswered questions, including issues concerning Raza’s communications before his death, missing digital and forensic evidence, and the alleged conduct of his business partner before and after the incident.
It also proposed 10 charges against the former investigators, including mishandling evidence, failing to record witness statements, manipulating investigation records and unlawfully handling the deceased’s devices.
The family further called for an inquiry into whether senior police officers or public officials had influenced the investigation and questioned the handling and forensic examination of Raza’s smart watch.
A copy of the letter was also sent to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Sindh’s deputy inspector general for crime and investigation.
Raza, 25, who owned Wafflix, went missing on July 28. His body was found the following day in bushes near Shahi Qila Ground in Gulistan-i-Jauhar with a gunshot wound.
His family maintains that he was kidnapped, tortured and murdered, while the initial investigation suggested evidence supporting suicide. After both the autopsy and the investigation got mired in inconsistencies, his family sought a fresh autopsy.
An eight-member medical board led by Police Surgeon Dr Summaiya Syed conducted the exhumation and examination on August 8.
Syed said multiple injuries were found on the head and face, along with a fractured rib described as the gunshot entry wound, with the bullet exiting from the front.
She also reported injuries to the right flank and feet and a congealed black substance in the mouth and throat.
