Mir Raza murder case: Sindh govt asks agencies, Sindh Rangers to nominate JIT members

The Sindh government has written to the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), the Intelligence Bureau (IB), the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency and the Sindh Rangers to nominate members to a joint investigation team (JIT), recommended by a judicial panel , to investigate Mir Raza Ali’s murder, it emerged on Saturday. The 25-year-old businessman had gone missing on July 28 after leaving his home in PECHS, and his body, bearing a gunshot wound, was found in the bushes in Gulistan-i-Jauhar a day later. In its 62-page report , submitted to the government on October 15, a commission had recommended forming a JIT, calling it a “most viable path” to mitigate ongoing reputational damage to the Sindh government.

Sindh High Court judge Justice Omar Sial, who headed the single-member commission, recommended integrating senior representatives from the ISI, IB, Sindh Rangers, and the NCCIA in the JIT to “ensure an impartial, comprehensive, and credible resolution”. The commission had also recommended West Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) Irfan Baloch to lead the team. Acting on the commission’s directives, the Sindh Home Minister, on Thursday, announced that the JIT would be formed under the DIG Baloch, and the summary had been sent to the chief minister. The letters, dated October 23, were sent through the Sindh Home Department and seen by Dawn . They requested the ISI, IB, NCCIA and Sindh Rangers to nominate a senior officer, not below the rank of BS-18, to serve on the JIT headed by DIG Baloch to investigate Mir Raza’s murder. The letters requested the aforementioned authorities to nominate their representatives within seven days so that the JIT could commence its work. In its letter to the NCCIA, the Home Department specifically requested a senior official with…