10 People on Investigators’ Radar in Mir Raza Murder Case
News Desk
Karachi: Investigators probing the murder of Karachi youth Mir Raza have widened the scope of the case, focusing on his financial dealings, digital devices and forensic evidence as authorities seek to establish the circumstances surrounding his death.
Sources said investigators have prepared a list of 10 people who had financial dealings with Mir Raza and will summon them for questioning. The authorities have compiled details of loans exceeding Rs50 million allegedly involving the 10 individuals.
According to investigative sources, Mir Raza had reportedly borrowed more than Rs17.5 million from a person identified as Abid, while another individual, Moni, had allegedly lent him Rs500,000.
Investigators will question the people on the list about their financial transactions with Mir Raza, the reasons behind the loans and other dealings that could help establish a possible motive or clarify events preceding his death.
Meanwhile, police have handed over Mir Raza’s mobile phone and digital watch to the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) for forensic examination. The devices had previously been sent to the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD), but were later retrieved and transferred to NCCIA experts.
Investigators consider the digital data stored on the devices potentially significant and expect the forensic examination to help uncover information relevant to the case. The devices were handed over in the presence of Mir Raza’s parents.
The new investigation team has also decided to seek assistance from technical and forensic experts to analyze the evidence collected during the probe.
Forensic officials have reportedly pointed out problems with the Integrated Ballistic Identification System (IBIS), which has affected the matching of shell casings. Experts are also examining evidence through microscopic analysis to determine whether a firearm can be linked to a recovered shell.
The investigation gained further momentum following Mir Raza’s exhumation and a fresh medical examination. The initial findings reportedly revealed multiple injuries, including broken ribs, injuries to the head and face, and a significant wound and fracture on the right thigh.
The medical findings also indicated a bullet injury, with the entry wound on the back appearing smaller than the corresponding wound at the front, a pattern experts said could indicate that the bullet struck from behind.
Authorities collected 17 samples during the exhumation, including samples from Mir Raza’s parents for DNA comparison. The samples are expected to be examined at the forensic laboratory of the University of Karachi.
Mir Raza Ali Khan had reportedly gone missing from PECHS on July 28 after leaving his residence at around 4:09am in an online taxi. His body was recovered two days later. The investigation remains ongoing, with authorities examining financial, digital, ballistic, medical and DNA evidence to determine what led to his death.
