In Pakistan, commission summons minister over attorney general’s interference — Dawn
In Karachi, Pakistan, a judicial commission investigating the circumstances of the killing of Mir Raza Ali and possible negligence summoned Sindh Interior Minister Ziaul Hassan Lanjar. This came after Sindh Attorney General Jawad Dero intervened in the hearing and objected to questions from the representative of the deceased’s family.
The incident occurred during the testimony of Karachi police forensic expert Summaya Syed. As Dawn reports, Sindh High Court judge Omar Sial, who solely heads the commission, called the attorney general’s intervention regrettable. According to him, the objection was raised as the doctor was explaining the role of senior police officers during the autopsy.
The commission’s position
The order states that the commission itself determines whether a question is relevant for consideration. The judge stressed that its mandate provides for establishing the factual circumstances of the case. Lanjar was summoned to the September 10 hearing to present his position on the family’s right to ask questions and ensure that justice is carried out.
Sial also expressed the view that the Sindh attorney general had tried to prevent the commission from transparently considering the family’s inquiries. The commission was established to examine the impartiality of the investigation and the circumstances of Ali’s death.
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Repeat autopsy findings
The body of 25-year-old Ali was found on July 29 in the Gulistan-i-Jauhar area of Karachi, the day after he went missing. After Summaya Syed pointed out shortcomings in the conclusions of the first autopsy, the body was exhumed and a repeat autopsy was conducted.
The final repeat autopsy report found that death was caused by a ruptured heart resulting from a through-and-through gunshot wound to the chest. The entry wound was in the back, while the exit wound was on the front of the chest. The report said these findings were incompatible with suicide. Ali’s family had previously accused the police of attempting to conceal the facts.
Complaint over the protest
Separately, the Sindh High Court considered a petition seeking to quash a case registered on August 27 against about 100 protest participants in connection with the case. They were accused of blocking traffic and pedestrians on Shahrah-e-Faisal Road in Karachi.
The court issued notices to the attorney general, prosecutor general and other parties in the case, scheduling a hearing for November 11. Until then, no coercive measures will be taken against the applicants, but they must cooperate with the investigation, which must be conducted in accordance with the law.
