Judge criticises Mir Raza’s business partner for concealing facts

On Thursday, a judicial commission investigating the circumstances surrounding Mir Raza Ali's murder expressed disappointment with the victim's business partner, Muhammad Ahmed Bhardey, for his attempts to mislead the commission and conceal information about the case. The one-member commission, headed by Justice Omar Sial of the Sindh High Court, grilled Bhardey for over two hours, questioning his motives and actions following the victim's disappearance.

The business partner claimed that he and the victim were childhood friends, having studied together throughout their academic years. He also stated that they had established a business in 2020, and on the night of July 28, they searched the victim's room to uncover any clues about his whereabouts. Bhardey asserted that the deceased's smartwatch, keys, and various articles, including narcotics, were discovered during the search.

However, when questioned about the partnership deed, he claimed that it was registered in 2021 and he had obtained it from the victim in 2024, following a notice from the Sindh Board of Revenue regarding the non-registration of the deed. The commission inquired as to why Bhardey had transferred the weekly payment for their eatery to his account shortly after the victim's disappearance, despite his earlier claim that the eatery was financially stable.

The commission also noted that Bhardey had not provided satisfactory explanations regarding his involvement and the investments made by other individuals in the business, leading to their dissatisfaction with his performance during the proceedings.