‘Patriotism has no single definition’: CJP lea…

Karachi Police Chief Azad Khan has said that investigations into the death of Mir Raza are continuing from every possible angle, adding that recovering the missing weapon could be crucial in determining what happened. Speaking to the media, Azad Khan said the initial medical report was prepared by a doctor working under the police surgeon. The medico-legal officer (MLO) examined the body and submitted the report to the police surgeon, who kept it for two days before it was released. He questioned why any concerns regarding the report were not addressed immediately. According to the police chief, the police surgeon neither personally examined the body nor conducted the medical examination, and any reservations about the findings should have been communicated to investigators without delay. Azad Khan said police based their early investigation on the preliminary medico-legal report provided by the MLO. He added that confirmation of gunpowder residue on the deceased’s hands was also essential to the investigation. The police chief said the Crime Scene Unit collected evidence from the scene and handed all relevant material over to the medical team. He also questioned why the medical team did not visit the crime scene, noting that in many countries medical experts inspect the scene themselves, particularly in high-profile cases. He said that if Mir Raza’s family requests it, another medical examination can be conducted. Meanwhile, investigators are looking into the disappearance of the weapon believed to be linked to the case. Azad Khan also confirmed that police are searching for a waste collector seen in a video recorded near the scene. He said locating the missing weapon could help investigators resolve key questions surrounding Mir Raza’s death. The investigation remains ongoing, with police continuing to gather evidence and examine all possible leads.

The father of businessman Mir Raza Ali has raised fresh concerns about the investigation into his son’s death. Speaking to the media on Monday, Mir Hassan claimed that his son’s business partner went missing after being questioned by police. He said police had questioned the business partner once. The man was allegedly not seen again after the questioning. Hassan said the family had not been informed about the investigation involving employees of the guest house in Gulistan-e-Johar. Mir Raza’s body was found near the guest house. “We have not been told what investigations were conducted with the employees,” he said. The victim’s father also questioned why CCTV footage from the guest house had not been made public. The latest concerns have emerged as investigators continue to review the circumstances surrounding Mir Raza’s death. The case took a new turn after the businessman’s body was exhumed for a second post-mortem examination. The second medical examination found a firearm injury and several wounds that had occurred before death. It also reported signs of internal bleeding. According to the findings, a bullet entered the upper right side of Mir Raza’s back and exited through the left side of his chest. The bullet fractured his sixth rib and caused internal bleeding. The report also documented injuries to different parts of his head, face, neck and chest. Following the medical findings, police added Section 302 of the Pakistan Penal Code to the case. The section relates to murder. The original FIR had been registered under Section 365, which concerns kidnapping. Mir Raza, 25, was allegedly abducted from the PECHS area. His body was later found in bushes near a wedding hall in Gulistan-e-Johar. Police had earlier suspected that he may have been tortured before being shot. The case initially faced uncertainty over whether Mir Raza had been murdered or had died by suicide. His family, however, consistently rejected the suicide theory. The second post-mortem has strengthened the family’s claim that Mir Raza was killed. Questions had also been raised about the first post-mortem report. Karachi Police Surgeon Dr Summaiya Syed had pointed out several issues in the initial examination. She had questioned why the body was not X-rayed and why hand swabs were not collected for gunshot residue testing. She had also raised concerns over the scientific measurement and photography of firearm injuries. Questions were further raised about the documentation of the bullet’s path and the examination of the entry and exit wounds. Following these developments, police dissolved the previous investigation team. A new team was formed under the leadership of DIG Crime and Investigation Amir Farooqi. The new team was tasked with conducting a fresh investigation based on the latest medical findings. Investigators were also expected to revisit the crime scene. They were directed to re-question the victim’s family and other relevant individuals. The team was also expected to examine forensic, technical, physical and circumstantial evidence. Mir Raza’s family has repeatedly criticised the handling of the case. They have maintained that he was murdered and demanded that those responsible be identified and brought to justice. The family’s lawyer, Jibran Nasir, had also alleged that investigators pressured the family to accept a suicide theory. He called for an independent and impartial investigation. The Sindh government has meanwhile decided to establish a judicial commission headed by a Sindh High Court judge. The commission is intended to oversee a transparent and impartial investigation into Mir Raza’s death.

The Supreme Court of Pakistan has granted bail to an Afghan national, who is married to a Pakistani woman, against surety bonds worth Rs20,000 in a case registered under the Foreign Act. During the hearing, the government lawyer informed the court that the accused had been arrested under the Foreign Act. He argued that the man did not possess a marriage certificate proving his marriage to the Pakistani woman at the time of his arrest. The prosecution further stated that the marriage certificate was obtained in 2024, although the accused claimed to have married in 1993. The lawyer also told the court that the man had no documentary evidence of his entry into Pakistan and was not carrying an Afghan passport. Justice Hashim Kakar questioned the prosecution’s arguments, observing that in many rural areas marriages are conducted without immediately registering a formal marriage certificate. The defence counsel told the court that the couple had married in 1993 and only later obtained official documentation. Justice Kakar also noted that two high courts had already directed authorities to issue the man a domicile, adding that the government itself had allowed Afghan nationals to enter Pakistan in the past. He remarked that they had even been provided ration support. The judge further questioned the prosecution, asking what additional proof of marriage was required when the couple had two children together. He also asked how the authorities had concluded that the accused was an Afghan citizen if he allegedly had no identification or official documents. After hearing the arguments from both sides, the Supreme Court approved the Afghan national’s bail, subject to the submission of surety bonds worth Rs20,000.

LAHORE: The Provincial Management Service (PMS) Officers Association has strongly opposed the Punjab government’s proposal to create 101 new Additional Assistant Commissioner (AAC) posts, describing the move as unnecessary and harmful to the existing administrative structure. The association argued that the AAC posts had been abolished years ago and their revival was not justified, particularly after the establishment of the Punjab Enforcement and Regulatory Authority (PERA), which was created to strengthen enforcement and regulatory functions across the province. During an executive committee meeting chaired by Association President Qamar Zaman Qaisrani, members unanimously decided to raise their concerns with senior government officials. A delegation of the association is expected to meet the Punjab services secretary and the additional chief secretary to seek a review of the proposed decision. The association warned that if its concerns remain unaddressed, PMS officers across Punjab will begin a province-wide protest campaign. As part of the first phase, officers plan to wear black armbands while performing official duties to register their protest against the government’s decision. PMS officers believe the creation of the new posts would place a significant financial burden on the provincial treasury. According to the association’s estimates, establishing one Additional Assistant Commissioner post, including official facilities, office infrastructure, staff, transport and operational expenses, would cost approximately Rs46.8 million. They claim that creating all 101 posts would require nearly Rs4.73 billion initially, in addition to recurring expenditures on salaries, allowances and other administrative costs. The association further expressed concerns over what it described as long-standing issues within the provincial bureaucracy. These include delays in promotion boards, alleged discrimination in transfers and postings, and the appointment of junior officers to positions traditionally reserved for senior officials. Former administrative secretary Yawar Mehdi also commented on the proposal, saying that efforts to improve public service delivery were welcome if they genuinely strengthened governance. However, he stressed that introducing additional administrative positions should not weaken the existing civil service structure or negatively affect the career progression of Provincial Management Service officers.