KARACHI (Dunya News) – The initial findings of a second post-mortem examination of young businessman Mir Raza Ali have revealed a gunshot wound, multiple fractures and several other injuries on his body, according to the medical report.
The report indicates that the firearm injury was sustained from the rear, while marks of violence were found across different parts of his body. The findings have emerged after Ali’s body was exhumed for a fresh examination amid his family’s allegations that he was murdered.
The medical examination was conducted after Ali’s family repeatedly rejected the suggestion that he had died by suicide. According to sources, the initial report has also provided answers to all 14 points raised by police surgeon Dr Summaiya Syed during the examination.
Medical findings
According to the report, a deep wound was found on the right side of Ali’s head, while his nasal bone was fractured. Blood had also accumulated in different areas of the head, with injuries recorded on various parts of his face.
The report stated that a black-coloured substance was found inside the mouth and neck. The hyoid bone, however, was found to be intact. Black marks were also identified on parts of the body and further examination of the material has been indicated.
A firearm injury was found on the right side of the chest, near the nipple, measuring approximately 0.8 centimetres. The edges of the entry wound and surrounding muscles showed black marks, while a rib on the right side was fractured.
According to the medical findings, the bullet entered from the right side of the chest and travelled towards the front portion of the heart. Two circular cuts or wounds were found on the heart. The bullet affected the heart before exiting near the ribs on the left side, where an exit wound was also identified.
The internal examination found the brain apparently intact in terms of its shape and structure. Evidence of the bullet’s entry and exit paths was also found in the lungs and chest.
The report further identified multiple severe injuries to the chest, including a fractured sixth rib. Injuries were also found on Ali’s feet, while blood stains were detected on tissues in the lower part of his body.
A fracture and injury measuring approximately 12 centimetres were identified on his right thigh. The jaw area also showed evidence of a deep injury and fracture, while injuries to the nasal bone and other parts of the face were documented.
The stomach and the final part of the digestive system contained semi-digested food, while fluid was found in the large intestine. The report categorised the injuries found on Ali’s body as ante-mortem, meaning they occurred before death.
Probe overhauled
Karachi police removed the investigation team formed to probe Ali’s death after the medical findings emerged, police officials said on Friday.
According to officials, SSP East Zubair Nazir Sheikh, SSP Special Investigation Unit (SIU) Samiullah Soomro and other officers were removed from the investigation. A notification regarding the formation of a new investigation team is expected to be issued soon.
The move came after Ali’s parents expressed a lack of confidence in the existing investigation team.
Family lawyer Jibran Nasir also criticised the investigation, alleging that police officers had kept family members at their office for hours and pressured them to accept the incident as a suicide. He accused the police of focusing on the family’s marital and financial affairs and attempting to put pressure on them.
Nasir said the medical findings showed that Ali had suffered clear signs of violence, including injuries to his face, fractured ribs and an injury to his toe. He also said the findings established that Ali had been shot in the back.
The lawyer called for the entire investigation team to be replaced and demanded that the case be investigated on the basis of all available evidence. He warned that the family would approach the court if the authorities failed to take appropriate action.
Samples collected
The exhumation process continued for around three hours under the supervision of forensic experts, investigation sources said. A total of 17 samples were collected from Ali’s body during the proceedings.
Four samples were taken for DNA testing, while the remaining samples were collected for chemical examination. Two reference samples were also obtained from Ali’s parents to facilitate DNA matching.
The samples have been preserved and are expected to be submitted to the University of Karachi’s forensic laboratory on Monday. Chemical examination and DNA reports are expected within three to four days, according to investigation sources.
Ali, an IBA graduate, had returned home from his shop on the night of July 28 before leaving again, telling his family that he would return within 10 minutes. Police later recovered his body from Gulistan-e-Jauhar.
His father subsequently alleged that his son had been murdered and rejected speculation that he had died by suicide. Speaking to the media, he said the family had maintained since July 30 that Ali was killed.
The father also accused unidentified individuals of spreading false information about his son, saying the family did not know who was responsible for the death but claimed that police had information about the case.
Ali’s mother said she had suspected foul play based on what she had observed before the post-mortem and maintained that the emerging medical evidence supported the family’s position.
Family members and their lawyer were present at the graveyard during the exhumation, while a heavy police contingent was deployed at the site as forensic experts collected the samples.