Judicial commission points finger at police’s ‘epic failure’, says Mir Raza was murdered

KARACHI: A judicial commission investigating businessman Mir Raza Ali's murder has accused the police of a "total failure" in their investigation. The Sindh cabinet decided to release the report, chaired by Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah, detailing the commission's findings. The 62-page document, penned by Justice Omar Sial, highlighted numerous procedural breaches by the police, which "rendered the case a failure."

Despite initial promptness in response to the discovery of the body, the report criticized the police for failing to adhere to proper procedures, leading to a lack of a clear cause for the murder beyond suicide. The commission found that releasing preliminary findings was premature and did not meet professional standards. It noted that the police investigation did not establish the truth, and they ignored potential factors such as coercion or blackmail.

The report also criticized the police for poor leadership, lack of seriousness, and communication breakdowns, resulting in a "rudderless ship" approach to the case. The commission expressed concerns over possible cover-ups in the initial stages of the investigation. The report's release follows the Sindh government's formation of the commission to ensure transparency and accountability.