Key Takeaways
- Karachi Police Surgeon Dr Summaiya Syed received threats after disputing the first autopsy findings in the Mir Raza Ali murder case.
- The case has been mired in controversy, with the family convinced their son was tortured and murdered.
- Dr Syed is part of a medical board that conducted a second post-mortem, which ruled out suicide.
Karachi Police Surgeon Dr Summaiya Syed has faced threats after disputing the findings of the first post-mortem in the murder case of young businessman Mir Raza Ali. Dr Syed testified before a judicial commission probing the circumstances of the case.
The 25-year-old victim’s family is convinced that their son was tortured and murdered, accusing police of trying to bury the facts. The case has been under scrutiny since July 29, when Ali’s body was found in Karachi’s Gulistan-i-Jauhar with a gunshot wound, a day after he went missing.
In early August, Dr Syed pointed out inconsistencies between the first medico-legal report and available photographs. Following this, Ali’s body was exhumed, and a second post-mortem was conducted. The examination revealed that Ali sustained multiple injuries before his death and ruled out suicide.
During her testimony, Dr Syed stated that she was followed by a motorcycle for two days and was given threats. She said that when she approached a police officer to point out loopholes in the first autopsy report, she was told that the police would be lenient during “interrogation” if she did not oppose the findings hinting at suicide.
Dr Syed further stated that a “public campaign” was being waged against her and her family members’ information was being shared online. She had filed a complaint before the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA).
Justice Omar Sial, heading the one-member panel, ordered the chief minister’s focal person to apprise CM Murad Ali Shah of Dr Syed’s statements. At the outset of the hearing, Dr Syed detailed the timeline of her communication with law enforcers, including Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Samiullah Soomro, in early August, suggesting exhumation of Ali’s body for the second autopsy.
Dr Syed noted that members of a medical board are chosen based on their expertise. She added that 263 photographs were taken during Ali’s second post-mortem examination. The Sindh Medicolegal Act 2023 has not yet been implemented, according to Dr Syed.
Justice Sial asked whether the Sindh Medicolegal Act 2023 has been implemented, to which Dr Syed replied that it has not. The case continues to be a test case for Dr Syed, who declared, “I would do the same if I have to in another case.”
I was followed by a motorcycle for two days. I was also given threats.
Dr Summaiya Syed, Karachi Police Surgeon
I would do the same if I have to in another case.
Dr Summaiya Syed, Karachi Police Surgeon
