Karachi businessman’s mysterious death: Second post-mortem raises fresh questions

Karachi trader Mir Raza Ali’s second autopsy finds bullet entered through back and exited chest

KARACHI, Aug 11 — A second post-mortem examination of 25-year-old Karachi businessman Mir Raza Ali, whose death in mysterious circumstances has raised questions over the police investigation, found that a bullet entered his body through the upper back and exited through the front of his chest, according to the medical report.

A special eight-member medical board of senior doctors and forensic experts conducted the examination on Saturday after Ali’s body was exhumed from a cemetery in Karachi, 12 days after his death.

The second autopsy was ordered by a local court after concerns were raised over the circumstances surrounding Ali’s death and the findings of the initial post-mortem.

Bullet caused severe damage to heart

According to the four-page post-mortem report, doctors found a bullet entry wound on the upper part of Ali’s back and an exit wound on the front of his chest.

The bullet caused fractures to his ribs and severe damage to his heart, the report said.

Doctors also found serious injuries to the right side of his forehead and nasal bone. Blood clots were found around his upper teeth and jaw.

The medical board also detected a fracture at the back of his skull. The report said the injuries had occurred before death.

The board collected samples of hair, teeth, bone fragments, a piece of the shroud and bullet remnants for further forensic examination.

Police surgeon Dr Samia Syed confirmed the findings of the preliminary second post-mortem report.

However, the medical board has not yet determined the final cause of death. A final opinion will be issued after chemical analysis and DNA reports are received.

Family had raised objections over medical board

The second autopsy was initially delayed on Friday after Ali’s family objected to what they described as overnight changes to the medical board formed for the exhumation.

Family lawyer and human rights activist Jibran Nasir said the original eight-member board, formed by the Karachi police surgeon following the court order, was later changed.

After what he described as a 24-hour dispute, Nasir said the original board was restored and carried out the second post-mortem.

The family had argued that changes to the board could undermine confidence in the transparency of the exhumation process.

Ali’s body found in bushes

Mir Raza Ali, a co-owner of the business “Wafflix”, left his home on July 28 and was later found dead in bushes near Shahi Qila Ground in Block 1 of Karachi’s Gulistan-e-Johar area.

His family said Ali had told his mother that he would return within 10 minutes.

When he failed to return and his mobile phone was switched off, the family began searching for him and informed police.

His body was recovered the following day. Police said the body was difficult to identify because some parts had burn marks, and his father identified him through his clothing.

An initial police assessment suggested that Ali had been assaulted before being shot, although the circumstances surrounding his death remain unclear.

Family questions police investigation

Ali’s father, Mir Hussain, said the family lost confidence in the police investigation soon after his son’s death.

He questioned how Ali reached the location where his body was found and said the family suspected that he could have been killed elsewhere and his body later dumped there.

The family has also raised questions over CCTV footage and the recovery of a bullet casing from the crime scene after a further search ordered by the court.

Nasir said the family wanted investigators to examine all possible motives and identify everyone who may have been involved.

The family has not directly accused any particular individual but has called for a comprehensive and impartial investigation.

Initial post-mortem raised further questions

Questions about the initial post-mortem emerged after Dr Samia Syed raised concerns over the examination.

According to the initial report, the post-mortem was conducted between 21 and 36 hours after Ali’s death, when the body had already begun decomposing.

Syed said the body had not been X-rayed and that samples had not been taken to determine whether gunpowder or other residue was present around the wounds or on the hands.

She also questioned the description and examination of the entry and exit wounds and said DNA samples should have been collected because the condition of the body made identification difficult.

Karachi police chief Azad Khan, however, questioned Syed’s comments, saying she had not personally conducted the post-mortem or examined the body and had based her observations on photographs.

He said any further investigation would be conducted on the basis of the medical board’s findings.

Police investigation continues

Police have formed a three-member investigation committee to determine how Ali died and who was responsible.

The committee is headed by Special Investigation Unit SSP Samiullah Somro and includes SSP East and SSP Investigation Muhammad Usman Sadozai.

Police have not yet arrested any suspect in connection with the case.

The family has called for the investigation to establish whether Ali was killed at the location where his body was found or elsewhere before being dumped there.

The final medical findings, including chemical and DNA analysis, are expected to help investigators determine the circumstances and cause of his death.