SSP Samiullah Soomro, who headed first probe team, records statement before Mir Raza commission

The Mir Raza Ali Judicial Commission on Thursday questioned SSP Special Investigation Unit (SIU) Dr Samiullah Soomro at length over the handling of the investigation, including the collection of CCTV footage, recording of witness statements and the handling of evidence.

Soomro headed the first special investigation team formed to probe the young businessman's alleged kidnapping and murder.

The commission asked the SSP when he was assigned the investigation. He said that he was given charge on August 2, with SSP District East Zubair Nazir Sheikh and SP Investigation East Zone-I Muhammad Usman Sadozai appointed as members of the team.

The commission noted that, according to its findings, Sadozai was in Azad Jammu and Kashmir from August 1 to 9. Soomro confirmed this and said Shabbir Leghari and Arshad Javed were assisting him.

Justice Omar Sial questioned why statements of relevant people had not initially been recorded and why the case was considered a possible suicide. Soomro said that Mir Raza’s father had initially suggested suicide and had also been asked whether the family had any enmity with anyone.

When asked why he had spoken to the media about the possibility of suicide without first recording statements, Soomro said that a private television channel had contacted him but he did not consider it appropriate to speak to it. He said he spoke to a newspaper reporter and told him that the incident appeared to be a possible suicide.

Soomro said he had spoken to Raza's business partner Ahmed Bhardey and others, who told him that Mir Raza was facing financial problems. He said he reviewed 30 CCTV recordings collected by police and visited the crime scene on August 3.

According to Soomro, the incident initially appeared to be a suicide. He said Dr Osama was also interviewed on August 3, but maintained that recording statements was the responsibility of the investigating officer.

Soomro said that he met the family only once, on August 3. He said some police officials had told the family that the incident appeared to be suicide, while investigating officer Shabbir Laghari had also given them a similar impression. SSP Soomro said the investigation had remained with him for only six days.

Justice Omar Sial remarked that the investigation into the case was compromised during those six days.

The commission also questioned Soomro about CCTV footage. He said there were nine streets through which a person could approach or leave the area, but footage from only one street had been obtained. Justice Sial noted that 85 cameras had been installed in the area and asked how many cameras had been checked.

SSP Somroo said Zubair Nazir Sheikh was obtaining the footage and that 30 recordings had been collected.

Justice Sial questioned why more footage had not been obtained and also asked about the seizure memos for the recordings. Soomro said those documents might be with the investigating officer.

When asked whether investigators had checked footage showing anyone picking up the mobile phone, the SSP admitted that he had not asked about it.

Justice Sial questioned why, as a senior investigating officer, Soomro had not personally examined the phone or ensured that it was sent for forensic analysis. Soomro said neither he nor his team had attempted to open the phone.

The commission also questioned Soomro about a smartwatch. He said he had no information about it and suggested that it might have been dealt with before he took charge of the investigation.

Justice Sial noted that AIG Azad Khan had shown the family a PDF concerning the smartwatch on August 5 and questioned how Soomro could have been unaware of it. The SSP said he did not know about the matter.