"Mir Raza used to keep cigarettes, sometimes hashish on his shelf": Ahmed Bhardey tells commission

KARACHI: Ahmed Bhardey testified Thursday before a judicial commission probing Mir Raza Ali case. Ahmed alleged that Raza used to keep cigarettes and sometimes hashish on his shelf.

Bhardey told the commission that he had known Raza since childhood and had been his classmate from the first grade. The two became business partners in 2020 and jointly operated two WaffleX branches and two cloud kitchens.

According to Bhardey, both partners were involved in managing the businesses. He said the ventures performed well financially, prompting them to agree to withdraw Rs5,000 each day for personal expenses. An accountant was hired in July; until then, the partners themselves handled the business’s financial affairs.

The commission questioned Bhardey about the events of July 28, the day Raza went missing. He said he arrived at Raza’s residence at around 8am with Abdullah. Manager Sheeri, along with Kazim, Raziq and Haisam, was also present.

Bhardey said he entered Raza’s room with Abdullah, Raziq, Sheeri and Raza’s mother. He told the commission that Raza’s wallet, charger and keys were found in the room—items he said Raza normally carried with him.

He further stated that cigarette packets were lying on a shelf and that some of them occasionally contained hashish.

Asked why he had specifically mentioned the hashish, Bhardey said he wanted to dispel any suspicion surrounding himself.

The commission also questioned him about a missing partnership agreement and the house keys. Bhardey explained that after the business received a show-cause notice from the Sindh Revenue Board, the original 2024 partnership agreement was left with him. He said the document had previously been in Raza’s possession.

Bhardey denied taking any keys from Raza’s residence.

Regarding Raza’s Apple Watch, Bhardey said it was found in the room and contained notes that were later examined by Raza’s sister. He denied asking her to check the watch, saying he was away picking up a friend when the notes were discovered.

The commission members expressed reservations about portions of Bhardey’s testimony and urged him to provide a truthful account of the events.

One member also questioned his request for weekly online-delivery payments ranging between Rs600,000 and Rs800,000 at a time when the circumstances surrounding Raza’s disappearance were becoming increasingly serious.

In response, Bhardey said neither he nor the others had anticipated that the situation would escalate into such a significant matter.