Judicial commission recommends JIT to probe Mir Raza case

The Mir Raza commission has identified serious shortcomings in police investigation into his murder case and recommended forming a joint investigation team (JIT) to conduct further probe.

The commission questioned the police’s initial position that Mir Raza had died by suicide, noting that the final post-mortem report cited a gunshot wound to the back as the cause of death, according to the report’s executive summary.

The report also pointed to flaws in the preservation of evidence and the procedures followed by police during the investigation. To pursue further probe, the commission recommended forming a JIT headed by DIG Irfan Baloch, with representatives from the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), Intelligence Bureau (IB), Pakistan Rangers Sindh and the cybercrime agency.

It also recommended setting up a high-level committee led by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) to investigate the role of police personnel in the case.

The commission called for departmental and criminal proceedings against police officials found responsible for any wrongdoing. It said a rigorous and transparent investigation was essential because the handling of the case had compromised evidence.

The judicial commission submitted its report to Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah on October 15.