Sindh govt forms another committee for police reforms after Mir Raza case
The Sindh government has decided to form another committee to introduce comprehensive police reforms in the wake of the Mir Raza case, with Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Zulfiqar Larik set to lead the body.
The committee will review the performance of the police investigation department, assess the functioning of the crime scene unit and recommend measures to improve the performance of other relevant departments.
The move is part of the provincial government’s ongoing efforts to address shortcomings in the police system and restore public confidence following concerns raised during the investigation into the death of Karachi-based young businessman Mir Raza Ali.
A judicial commission constituted to examine the case highlighted public distrust in the police and identified concerns regarding the handling of the investigation.
The Sindh government has already formed a subcommittee to oversee the implementation of the judicial commission’s recommendations. The provincial cabinet also approved the public release of the commission’s report after it was submitted to the government in a sealed envelope on October 15.
Background of the case
Mir Raza, 25, went missing on July 28, 2026, after leaving his residence in Karachi’s Pakistan Employees Housing Society (PECHS) in an online taxi. His body was found two days later in bushes in Gulistan-e-Johar, with a gunshot wound.
Police initially considered suicide as one possible explanation, but his family alleged that he had been kidnapped, tortured and murdered. Questions over the initial post-mortem examination and the handling of evidence further complicated the investigation.
On August 6, a Karachi court ordered the exhumation of the body and a second post-mortem examination by a medical board. The exhumation and examination were carried out on August 8 after a dispute over the board’s composition was resolved.
The investigation was subsequently transferred to a different police team, and the murder provision was reportedly added to the case.
The family also approached the authorities over concerns about the investigation and called for an independent probe. The Sindh government subsequently requested the formation of a judicial commission to examine the circumstances of the case, the role of police and medico-legal officials, and possible lapses in the investigation.
The commission recorded statements from police officers, medico-legal officials, family members and other relevant individuals before completing its proceedings in October.
Following the submission of its report, the provincial government established a four-member subcommittee comprising Home Minister Ziaul Hassan Lanjar, Local Government Minister Nasir Hussain Shah, Minister Saeed Ghani and Sindh Advocate General to oversee the implementation of its recommendations.
The newly proposed committee, led by DIG Larik, will focus on reviewing police procedures and recommending reforms aimed at improving investigations and the handling of crime scenes.