Court Expresses Concern Over Slow Investigation into Karachi Businessman Mir Raza Murder

KARACHI: The court hearing the murder case of young businessman Mir Raza has expressed concern over the slow pace of the investigation and directed investigators to complete the probe by August 24.
The newly appointed investigating officer, Siraj Lashari, appeared before the court. The complainant, Mir Hussain, also attended the hearing along with his lawyer, Jibran Nasir.
Lashari told the court that the statement of Muhammad Ahmed, Mir Raza’s business partner, had been recorded as a witness.
Muhammad Ahmed told the court that he had appeared whenever summoned by police but was sometimes kept waiting for up to six hours. He said police had summoned him on August 13 and he had appeared before them.
The court directed Ahmed to cooperate whenever called by police and ordered him not to change his residence or leave the city without informing investigators while he remained on interim bail.
The complainant’s lawyer argued that Ahmed’s statement had been recorded as a witness and warned that if his bail application were rejected, he could potentially become an accused in the case.
Expressing concern over the slow progress of the investigation, the court said that the victim’s father, family and people of the city were concerned and urged investigators to uncover the facts surrounding the killing.
Investigating officer Siraj Lashari said he had taken charge of the investigation on August 13. He said investigators were questioning around 35 people who had been in contact with Mir Raza.
According to Lashari, people who were in contact with Mir Raza on the day of the incident were being specifically questioned on the basis of call records.
He said Muhammad Ahmed and Mir Raza had spoken to each other, but investigators had so far neither identified nor declared anyone an accused in the case.
The court extended Muhammad Ahmed’s interim bail until August 24 and directed him to cooperate with the investigation. The court also granted investigators time until August 24 to complete the probe and ordered them to submit a report at the next hearing.
### Further Progress in Mir Raza Murder Investigation
Meanwhile, investigators have reported further progress in the case, saying additional evidence has been recovered from the crime scene.
Two more members have been added to the investigation committee, bringing its total strength to nine. An SHO of Shah Latif Police Station and a DSP have been included in the committee.
Investigators also retrieved Mir Raza’s mobile phone and smartwatch from the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA).
The devices will be sent to a forensic laboratory in Lahore for examination. Mir Raza’s family had previously expressed reservations about having the devices forensically examined by the NCCIA.
Investigators said additional evidence had also been recovered from the crime scene as the probe into the businessman’s killing continues.