Key Takeaways
- Sindh government has requested agencies to nominate members for a joint investigation team (JIT) to probe Mir Raza Ali’s murder.
- The JIT will be headed by West Deputy Inspector General of Police Irfan Baloch.
- The investigation will involve digital forensics and analysis of mobile phones and social media records.
The Sindh government has instructed key intelligence and law enforcement agencies to nominate members for a joint investigation team (JIT) to investigate the murder of 25-year-old businessman Mir Raza Ali, who went missing on July 28 and was found dead the following day.
In a letter dated October 23, the Sindh Home Department requested the ISI, IB, National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA), and Sindh Rangers to nominate a senior officer, not below the rank of BS-18, to serve on the JIT headed by DIG Irfan Baloch.
The JIT is tasked with investigating the murder, with a specific emphasis on digital forensics, including the analysis of mobile phones, Apple Watch, iCloud, social media, and cryptocurrency records.
The 62-page report submitted by Sindh High Court judge Justice Omar Sial, who headed the single-member commission, recommended forming the JIT as a “most viable path” to mitigate reputational damage to the Sindh government.
The commission also recommended that the NCCIA nominate a senior official with expertise in digital forensics, highlighting the importance of thorough digital analysis in the investigation.
The Sindh Home Minister announced that the JIT would be formed under DIG Baloch, and the summary had been sent to the chief minister.
The provincial government has also written to the Sindh inspector general of police (IGP), asking him to take action against police officials found guilty of negligence by the judicial commission.
The 62-page report submitted by Justice Sial criticized the police for breaching all required procedures and failing in their most basic duty: to establish the truth.
The report noted that senior police officers swept clear investigative lapses under the carpet, without acknowledging them, addressing them, or attempting to do so.
Dozens of police officers, both authorized and unauthorized, were involved in collecting evidence and interrogating crucial persons, but no officer was willing to take responsibility for the lapses.
