The father of deceased young businessman Mir Raza Ali on Tuesday rejected the suicide narrative surrounding his son's death, alleging that he was murdered.
Ali — an IBA graduate — returned home from his shop on the night of July 28 before leaving again, telling his family he would be back within 10 minutes. Police later recovered his body from bushes in Block 1 of Gulistan-e-Jauhar.
Speaking to Geo News, Hussain Raza alleged that his son's face, body and fingerprints had been burned and claimed that he had been shot from behind.
He also questioned why the medical report only mentioned the gunshot wound and did not mention any signs of torture, raising concerns over the findings documented in the examination.
According to Raza, the young businessman went missing on July 28, and his body was found a day later. He questioned where his son had been during the intervening 24 hours.
According to Raza, his son had spoken to his sister before leaving home on July 28, adding that a taxi driver later told the family that Ali appeared happy and had been singing during the journey.
The deceased's father appealed to higher authorities to investigate the case.
Investigative sources said earlier that an initial medical assessment found that the young businessman sustained a gunshot wound to the chest.
Preliminary findings further suggested that Ali had taken a security guard's weapon before the incident, they had said.
Meanwhile, Additional Inspector General of Karachi Police Azad Khan has constituted a special three-member investigation team to probe Ali's death, directing senior officers to carry out a comprehensive inquiry and submit daily progress reports to him.
AIG Khan has ordered ensuring concrete and effective measures for solving the high-profile murder case at the earliest.
Special Investigation Unit SSP Samiullah Soomro is heading the investigation team, with District East SSP Zubair Nazir Sheikh and East-I Investigation SP Muhammad Usman Saduzai as members.
The committee has been tasked with investigating every aspect of the case, identifying and arresting those involved, and utilising all available resources to bring the perpetrators to justice. To strengthen the inquiry, the committee has also been authorised to seek assistance from any officer within the Karachi range whenever required.
According to the initial postmortem report, Ali’s body was 24 to 36 hours old, and the bullet’s entry wound was larger than the exit wound.
MLO sources said the marks clearly indicate the bullet was fired from behind and exited through the front. The sources added that suspicious marks were also found on the body's right hand. They further said a wound was visible on his face.
The sources added that his photos showed the body was swollen and his face was severely damaged.
Meanwhile, investigators confirmed they have obtained Ali's mobile data record and forensic report, adding that the mobile data record suggests Ali owed money to several people.
Citing the mobile data record, the official said that Ali had sent a message to a friend on the night of July 28 and asked for a loan of Rs30 million.
Ali had told his friend that he was in great difficulty and was in dire need of money, the authorities added.
“Ali’s initial medical report states the cause of death as a gunshot wound,” investigation officials said, adding that his complete medical report has not yet been received.
The authorities said the victim’s family was not satisfied with the initial medical report, as his parents claimed Ali’s body bore signs of violence and burns.
Investigation officials said that if the family requests another medical examination, it will be conducted.
The authorities added that statements from 15 people, including the taxi driver and the person who first reported the body online, have been recorded.
Officials said a detailed investigation is underway to determine whether Ali’s death was a suicide or a murder.
