KARACHI: Investigators probing the death of young businessman Mir Raza Ali have decided to send his smartwatch and mobile phone to the Punjab Forensic Science Agency (PFSA) in Lahore for examination, officials said on Saturday.
Ali, an IBA graduate and businessman, was found dead in Gulistan-e-Jauhar on July 29, a day after he went missing. His father has consistently maintained that his son was murdered and has rejected suggestions that the death was a case of suicide.
Investigation officials said the inquiry committee retrieved Ali's mobile phone and smartwatch from the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) and would now send the devices to the PFSA for forensic analysis.
According to officials, the move comes after Ali's family expressed reservations about having the devices examined by the NCCIA and sought an independent forensic review.
The officials also said that additional evidence had been recovered from the crime scene, though they did not disclose further details.
Meanwhile, a judicial magistrate granted investigators until August 24 to complete the probe after the investigating officer (IO) informed the court that the inquiry had yet to be finalised.
IO Siraj Lashari appeared before the East judicial magistrate today and sought additional time to conclude the investigation and submit a report. Accepting the request, the court directed investigators to present their findings at the next hearing on August 24.
Investigators have expanded the inquiry committee probing the businessman’s death from 7 to 9 members.
The newly inducted members include the SHO of Shah Latif Town police station and a deputy superintendent of police (DSP).
In a separate development, an additional district and sessions judge extended the pre-arrest bail of Ali's business partner, Muhammad Ahmed, until August 24.
During the hearing, Ahmed's counsel told the court that his client had been called to the crime scene at around 1am.
The lawyer argued that his client feared being implicated in the case despite assisting the inquiry. The court later restrained police from harassing him pending further proceedings.
After hearing arguments, the court extended the interim bail and directed Ahmed to cooperate with investigators and join the ongoing probe.
Speaking to reporters outside the court, Jibran Nasir, counsel for the deceased businessman's father, said the victim's family had provided investigators with the names of individuals who might possess information relevant to the case but had not accused anyone of involvement in the killing.
"The parents have not used the word 'suspect' for any individual," Nasir said, adding that names, including that of Ahmed, had been shared only to help investigators pursue all possible leads.
He described the case as a "blind murder" and said the family did not want to level allegations without evidence.
Nasir expressed confidence in the newly-constituted investigation team, saying its inquiry was not contradicting the available medical evidence and was being conducted in accordance with standard operating procedures (SOPs).
He said the family wanted investigators to ensure accurate geo-fencing analysis, obtain relevant CCTV footage and complete forensic examinations.
The lawyer also criticised the handling of the case by the previous investigation team, alleging that serious procedural lapses had occurred during the initial stages of the inquiry.
He claimed that a crime scene unit had failed to reach the site and alleged that the scene had been set on fire, potentially affecting the collection of DNA evidence.
"Our focus is on identifying the killers," he said, adding that the family wanted those responsible to be arrested alive and brought before the courts so the case could proceed through the legal process.
