Dr Osama was removed from his medico-legal officer post after an inquiry found serious mistakes in the initial post-mortem examination, officials said.
WEB DESK: A medico-legal officer who conducted the initial post-mortem examination of young businessman Mir Raza Ali has been removed from his position following an inquiry that found serious lapses in the examination, officials said on Wednesday.
Dr Osama was removed from his post as a medico-legal officer (MLO) after authorities identified serious mistakes in the initial post-mortem examination. Officials said he would appear before the relevant authorities as part of an inquiry into the matter.
Controversy over initial post-mortem
The development follows a dispute between the Karachi police surgeon and investigators over alleged shortcomings in the medico-legal report prepared after Mir Raza’s death.
The deceased’s father subsequently approached a Karachi court seeking a fresh medical examination. His family’s lawyer, Jibran Nasir, told the court that no X-ray had been conducted and that the cause of death had not been determined. The court later allowed the exhumation of Mir Raza’s body.
A second autopsy conducted after the exhumation found that Mir Raza had been shot in the back, according to the report cited by Geo News. It identified two gunshot holes in his shirt, including one at the back and a larger one at the front.
The medical examination also reportedly identified marks of violence, injuries to the feet, a fracture and approximately 12-centimetre injury to the right thigh, as well as a deep injury and fracture around the jaw.
Chemical report finds acid particles
A separate chemical examination report found acid particles on Mir Raza’s shirt and evidence associated with gunshot residue, according to a copy obtained by Geo News.
The report also stated that efforts had apparently been made to conceal his identity and that no fingerprints were found on the victim’s hands.
Fresh investigation identifies further lapses
Authorities have also identified shortcomings in the initial investigation.
Investigators confirmed that geofencing of the crime scene had not been conducted and that Mir Raza’s mobile data record had not been obtained. His smartwatch had also not undergone forensic examination, according to the report.
The newly constituted investigation team said geofencing would be conducted and mobile data records obtained. Investigators have also collected details of a suspected guesthouse and contacted the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) to determine whether Mir Raza had faced threats before his death.
Family welcomes progress in probe
Mir Raza’s father, Mir Hussain, said the investigation appeared to be moving in the right direction for the first time in nearly two weeks.
He expressed confidence in the newly constituted probe team and said the family hoped the investigation would reach its logical conclusion.
The family has provided investigators with information concerning three suspicious individuals and said it would continue pursuing legal avenues to establish the circumstances surrounding Mir Raza’s death.
The investigation remains ongoing, with authorities examining forensic evidence, digital records and other leads as they seek to determine what happened to the young businessman.
