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KARACHI, August 25, 2026: The Sindh Home Department has formed a judicial commission to investigate the death of 25-year-old Mir Raza Ali, appointing Justice Umar Sial as its head after his nomination by the chief justice of the Sindh High Court.
The Mir Raza Ali case has triggered public concern after his death was initially described as suicide before a second post-mortem examination determined that he had been murdered.
The commission was established at the request of the provincial government under the Sindh Tribunals of Inquiry Ordinance, 1969. However, Mir Raza’s family has challenged the decision before the Sindh High Court and demanded a joint investigation team to conduct the murder probe.
According to the Home Department notification, the commission has been given four main terms of reference.
It will examine the circumstances and possible motives surrounding Mir Raza’s death. It will also assess whether the police investigation has been impartial and determine whether any police officer or government official was negligent or involved in concealing evidence.
The commission can recommend additional investigation, forensic examination and legal action if required.
It has judicial powers to summon witnesses, record statements under oath and obtain official documents. Government departments and institutions have been instructed to cooperate fully.
The commission has been directed to submit its report within 30 days, although the period can be extended if necessary.
Mir Raza’s family has opposed the judicial commission as a replacement for a criminal investigation.
His parents, Mir Hassan Ali and Maryam Hussain, along with his sister Alishba Khan, filed the petition through lawyer Jibran Nasir.
The family has requested a JIT comprising representatives of the Sindh Police, Rangers, Federal Investigation Agency, Intelligence Bureau, Inter-Services Intelligence and Military Intelligence.
The petition argues that the existing police investigation has failed to make meaningful progress because of alleged institutional shortcomings.
The family also says the provincial chief secretary decided on August 22 to establish the commission without consulting them or discussing its terms of reference.
The petitioners say they are not opposed to investigating possible institutional failures. However, they argue that a judicial commission cannot replace a criminal investigation.
According to the family’s position, police investigators are responsible for identifying suspects, gathering evidence and submitting a charge sheet.
The family has also called for an investigation into the role of DIG East Farrukh Ali Lanjhar and other officers involved in the case.
It has requested departmental action against officials found responsible for negligence or failures during the investigation.
During Monday’s hearing, lawyer Jibran Nasir argued that the police probe had yet to reach a conclusion. He also said the family learned about the proposed judicial commission through media reports.
A two-member constitutional bench headed by Justice Adnan-ul-Karim Memon heard the family’s petition on Monday.
The court issued notices to the respondents and directed them to submit replies by August 31.
The bench also sought details of the commission’s terms of reference and information about action taken against police officers accused of negligence or dereliction of duty.
The court further restrained the existing investigation team from finalising its investigation or submitting a final charge sheet while the petition remains pending.
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Mir Raza Ali, who owned the popular dessert brand Wafflix, went missing on July 28.
His body was discovered in Gulistan-e-Jauhar the following day.
Police initially treated the death as suicide. A second post-mortem examination later concluded that he had been murdered.
The finding prompted widespread concern in Karachi, with civil society groups, lawyers, traders and students demanding that those responsible be identified and prosecuted.
The case has since attracted increased scrutiny over the handling of evidence and the conduct of the initial investigation.
Separately, Judicial Magistrate East granted investigating officer Siraj Lashari additional time to submit a progress report in the murder case.
Lashari told the court that forensic reports concerning Mir Raza’s mobile phone and other evidence had not yet been received.
The magistrate accepted the request and ordered the investigating officer to submit the progress report by September 7.
Following the hearing, Nasir told reporters that the family wanted a transparent investigation.
He questioned the handling of CCTV footage and other evidence, alleging that relevant recordings had not been provided to the family.
He also claimed that some cameras were later declared faulty despite being relevant to the investigation.
The petition names 19 individuals, along with several federal and provincial departments and institutions, as respondents. The list includes police officials connected with the investigation and doctors involved in the post-mortem examinations.
The Sindh High Court’s forthcoming proceedings are expected to determine how the judicial commission and criminal investigation will proceed while the family continues to seek a broader probe.
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