Counsel Jibran Nasir alleges a late-night call was made to Mir Raza’s father after Dr Summaiya Syed’s testimony before the judicial commission.
WEB DESK
The parents of businessman Mir Raza Ali allegedly faced pressure following testimony by Karachi Police Surgeon Dr Summaiya Syed, the judicial commission investigating his death was told on Tuesday.
Mir Raza’s counsel, lawyer Jibran Nasir, told the commission that a late-night phone call had been made to the deceased businessman’s father the previous night and alleged that the caller attempted to question him about people he suspected in his son’s death.
The allegations were made during the latest hearing of the one-member judicial commission headed by Sindh High Court Justice Omar Sial.
Father allegedly received late-night call
According to Nasir’s statement before the commission, the caller told Mir Raza’s father that SHO Adil Afzal was “their child” and claimed that an FIR had already been obtained from the police officer.
Nasir further alleged that the caller claimed to have spoken with DIG Amir Farooqi before asking the father whether he suspected four individuals identified as Asif, Abid, Ahmed or Abdullah.
The counsel said Mir Raza’s father responded that he did not suspect any of those individuals, after which the caller allegedly became angry.
The allegations have not been independently established by the commission and no finding of wrongdoing against the people mentioned has been made in the proceedings.
Family maintains Mir Raza was murdered
Mir Raza Ali, an IBA graduate and businessman, was found dead in Karachi’s Gulistan-e-Jauhar area on July 29, a day after he went missing.
His father has consistently rejected the suggestion that his son died by suicide and has maintained that he was murdered. The judicial commission was established to examine the circumstances surrounding his death and possible negligence or shortcomings in the investigation.
The commission has previously questioned investigators over records, evidence handling and aspects of the initial investigation.
Police surgeon previously reported threats
The latest allegations come a day after Dr Summaiya Syed told the commission that she had herself faced threats and surveillance while dealing with the case.
The police surgeon said she had been followed by men on motorcycles for two days and claimed that she was told she would be treated “leniently” if she declared Mir Raza’s death a suicide.
She also told the commission that she had filed a complaint with the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency over the alleged threats.
The commission expressed concern over the allegations and described Dr Syed as an important witness, with Justice Omar Sial offering the possibility of security protection, which she ultimately declined.
Business partner records testimony
The commission also recorded testimony from Mir Raza’s business partner Asad Ali Butt.
Butt told the commission that he worked in advertising and had not invested in stocks or cryptocurrency before becoming involved with Mir Raza’s business.
He said he invested Rs2.5 million under an agreement signed with Mir Raza in December, under which he was to receive Rs4 million by December 2026.
Butt said he had recovered Rs1.4 million from his investment before Mir Raza went missing.
He said he last met Mir Raza on July 21 and later contacted him about a payment related to his car. According to Butt, Mir Raza did not respond, and his phone was switched off the following day.
Butt said he subsequently learnt that Mir Raza had gone missing and contacted another person associated with the business.
Commission continues investigation
The judicial commission has previously summoned Mir Raza’s business partners, friends, employees and other people connected to the case as witnesses.
The proceedings have also involved questions over the initial autopsy, laboratory testing, police records and the handling of evidence.
The commission is continuing to examine testimony and records before reaching any conclusions about the circumstances surrounding Mir Raza’s death.
