SHC dismisses plea seeking JIT to probe Mir Raza’s murder

• Two-member SHC bench issues written order on plea.
• Court says IO assures every possible effort to complete probe.
• Other agencies may assist probe if necessary, says court.
  

KARACHI: The Sindh High Court (SHC) on Wednesday dismissed a plea seeking formation of a joint investigation team (JIT) to probe Mir Raza Ali’s murder.

A two-member SHC bench, headed by Justice Adnanul Karim and comprising Justice Muhammad Jaffer Raza, announced its verdict today, which it had reserved on Monday, on the plea filed by Ali’s family.

Ali, an IBA graduate and businessman, was found dead in Karachi’s Gulistan-e-Jauhar a day after he went missing on July 28. His father has consistently maintained that his son was murdered and has rejected suggestions that the death was a case of suicide.

In its seven-page written order, the SHC stated: “We are extremely mindful of the agonising loss experienced by them; however, we cannot allow our empathetic impulses to supersede the established mandate of the law. Consequently, this petition is disposed of.”

The court noted that the investigating officer had assured it that every possible effort would be made to complete the investigation.

The investigating officer would use all available resources in accordance with the law, the court noted.

It further noted that the investigating officer may seek assistance from other investigation agencies if required.

The SHC directed that the investigation into the Mir Raza case be completed in an impartial, fair and expeditious manner.

The court further stated that the petitioner could use all legal means to ensure a transparent and fair investigation.

The late young businessman’s family moved the SHC last month against the inquiry panel’s formation, saying that its constitution at this stage will have a negative impact on the case.

The development came after the SHC chief justice constituted a judicial commission to investigate the case, with Justice Omar Sial named as its head.

The commission was formed on the Sindh government’s request to investigate the alleged murder of the young businessman.

Advocate Jibran Nasir, counsel of Ali’s family, had rejected the Sindh government’s decision to form a judicial commission.

Talking to journalists, Nasir, on August 27, had said that the judicial commission had been formed without informing Ali’s family and that its terms of reference (ToRs) had not been made public.

The judicial commission has been tasked with preparing a report on the gruesome killing in 30 days, Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab had said.

The commission would examine the constitutional and legal aspects of the investigation and determine the facts of the case, with a focus on ensuring transparency, according to a notification issued to establish the panel.