Police surgeon suggests exhumation of Mir Raza Ali's body over flaws in autopsy report

Karachi police surgeon Dr Summaiya Syed has pointed out 14 serious deficiencies in the post-mortem report of Mir Raza Ali, who was killed last week.

In a letter regarding the post-mortem report dated July 29, 2026, Dr Syed said the examination failed to meet several forensic standards. She noted that no X-ray of the body was conducted, no hand swabs were collected to test for gunshot residue, and no chemical analysis was carried out on powder marks around the bullet entry wound.

The police surgeon pointed out that the skull and neck were not internally examined, scientific measurements and photographs of the gunshot wounds were not taken, and the entry and exit wounds were not properly documented.

According to the letter, the report also failed to explain the bullet's trajectory through the body, lacked forensic-standard photographs of the injuries, did not adequately describe the state of decomposition, and no DNA sample was collected to establish positive identification despite identification concerns.

Dr Syed said the report "raises more questions than it answers" and added that repeated attempts to contact senior Sindh Police officials through official WhatsApp groups and private messages had gone unanswered.

She stressed the need for a scientific and logical review of all aspects of the case and suggested that exhumation of the body should be considered if the identified issues cannot be addressed through the existing evidence.

The police surgeon has also sought an explanation from medico-legal officer Dr Osama Sheikh regarding the shortcomings in the post-mortem report.