Sindh Government Forms JIT After Judicial Commission Criticizes Police

The Sindh government has requested multiple agencies to nominate senior officers for a joint investigation team to probe the murder of Mir Raza Ali. This action follows a damning 62-page judicial commission report that recommended the JIT's formation and cited severe police negligence. The 25-year-old businessman went missing on July 28 and was found dead in Gulistan-i-Jauhar the following day.

Justice Omar Sial, heading the single-member commission, submitted the report to the Sindh chief minister on October 15. The commission held 20 meetings between August 27 and October 7, recording statements from 50 witnesses. It found the police investigation to be fundamentally flawed. Justice Omar Sial said, "This case demonstrates an epic failure by the police in their investigation." The family had disputed the police's initial suicide conclusion, pointing to marks of violence on the body. A second autopsy on August 8 identified a bullet wound entering through the back as the actual cause of death.

The commission documented specific lapses. It cited criminal negligence by Station House Officer Adeel Afzal and Sub-inspector Shabbir Leghari. Medico-Legal Officer Dr Osama Sheikh was criticized for 'extreme immaturity' and 'childish behaviour', with his initial findings proven incorrect. The police were faulted for sticking to their original conclusion despite conflicting medical evidence. Justice Omar Sial added, "The police breached all required procedures, both knowingly and unknowingly, necessary to withstand judicial scrutiny and a successful prosecution."

Government Response

The Sindh government wrote to the ISI, Intelligence Bureau, National Counter Crime and Analysis Agency (NCCIA), and Sindh Rangers on October 23 to nominate senior officers for the JIT. The commission had recommended West Deputy Inspector General of Police Irfan Baloch to lead the team, a recommendation the government followed. The Sindh Home Minister announced the JIT would be formed under DIG Baloch, with the summary sent to the chief minister. The letters requested nominated officers to be at least BS-18 rank. They specified that the NCCIA must provide a senior official with digital forensics expertise to analyze mobile phones, an Apple Watch, iCloud, social media, and Binance records.

Accountability Measures

Immediate disciplinary actions were recommended against officials named in the report. The commission called for proceedings against the negligent police officers and the suspension of Sub-inspector Shabbir Leghari. Dr Osama Sheikh was suspended and is to be proceeded against under E&D Rules. The commission also recommended he undergo two years of training. These recommendations were forwarded to the Inspector General of Police Sindh for implementation.

Ongoing Investigations

Multiple committees have been established to examine different aspects of the case. The judicial commission, stating it lacked investigative powers, recommended a high-level committee headed by the Federal Investigation Agency to initiate criminal proceedings. The Sindh government wrote to the Ministry of Interior requesting an FIA officer of BS-20 rank with investigation expertise to head this committee, with DIG Baloch and Special Branch DIG Naeem Ahmed Sheikh as members.

Separately, a one-member committee chaired by Additional IGP Counterterrorism Department Zulfiqar Ali Larik was notified to examine every police officer named in the commission’s report, with DIG Baloch assisting. This committee's terms of reference require it to assess leadership, efficiency, and policing performance, and to probe Inspector Ghaus's alleged role in the burning of the crime scene. Its findings will be submitted to the Sindh IGP.

The provincial government is expected to develop a comprehensive plan to reform police investigations based on the commission's findings.