Mir Raza case: Zia Lanjar summoned after commission judge, AG clash

The Judicial Commission investigating the murder of Mir Raza has summoned Sindh Home Minister to appear at its next hearing and adjourned further proceedings until September 10.

The commission heard the case in Karachi on Tuesday, during which Police Surgeon Dr Samia recorded her statement before the panel.

During the proceedings, a heated exchange took place between Commission head Justice Omar Sial and Sindh Advocate General Jawad Dero after Dero intervened while Jibran Nasir, counsel for Mir Raza’s family, was seeking to ask questions.

Justice Sial objected to the Advocate General’s intervention, stating that the family’s lawyer had the right to raise questions if the family had concerns that remained unanswered.

“If the family has some unanswered points and wants to ask them through Jibran Nasir, then what is the problem?” the commission head asked.

The commission termed the Advocate General’s intervention as interference in its proceedings. Dero, however, clarified that he was not attempting to interfere but was assisting the commission in its proceedings.

Justice Omar Sial reiterated that Jibran Nasir was representing the victim’s family and therefore had the right to ask questions on their behalf.

The Advocate General maintained that questions should be put to witnesses by the commission rather than by the counsel.

Following the exchange, the commission suspended the proceedings and summoned the Sindh Home Minister to appear before it. The commission also described the role of the Sindh government in the matter as “suspicious.”

Later, the judge issued a written order outlining the decisions taken during Tuesday’s proceedings, including the summons issued to the Sindh Home Minister.

Speaking to the media after the hearing, Advocate General Jawad Dero said he was unaware whether the Sindh Home Minister would appear before the commission.

Dero maintained that he had not interfered in the proceedings but nevertheless apologized to Justice Omar Sial. He also disagreed with the commission head’s remarks describing the Sindh government’s role as suspicious.

Meanwhile, Jibran Nasir told the media that the victim’s family had attended the introductory proceedings and that he had been asked to put a question before the commission but was not permitted to do so.

Nasir said the family wanted its concerns to be addressed through its counsel during the commission’s proceedings.