Investigators say chemical, DNA reports not ‘conclusive’ enough to determine direction of Mir Raza Ali probe

Investigators probing the murder of young business owner Mir Raza Ali on Tuesday received the chemical examiner’s report and one DNA report, but said the findings were not yet “conclusive” enough to determine the direction of the investigation.

The owner of eatery Wafflix went missing on July 28, and his dead body with a gunshot wound was discovered in the next day in the bushes of Gulistan-i-Jauhar area in Karachi.

Moreover, the investigators are waiting for the findings from other samples and the report of the police surgeon in the wake of laboratory reports.

The DNA report helped to confirm the identity of the deceased, thus negating all the rumors circulated on social media about some other person being killed. Informed sources stated that three important findings emerged from the chemical analysis of samples taken during the first post-mortem examination.

One, the chemical analysis proved the presence of gunshot residue at the back side of the perforation of the deceased’s shirt. Two, there were traces of acid found in his shirt. Three, the chemical examiner’s report showed the presence of bupivacaine, an anaesthetic drug, in the blood of the deceased.

Meanwhile, sources said the investigation team, constituted by Sindh IGP Javed Odho and led by DIG Crime and Investigation Amir Farooqi, had decided to carry out geofencing around the crime scene. The exercise would help investigators trace the possible movements of pedestrians as well as people travelling by cars and motorcycles.

Investigators would also obtain the call data record of the victim’s mobile phone as part of the probe.

At the request of the family’s lawyer, Jibran Nasir, two additional officers were also added to the investigation team: DSP Siraj Lashari of Hyderabad and Karachi South police inspector Mohammed Ali.

Sources said a chemical examination of the victim’s shirt found traces of acid, although no acid burns were detected on his body. Painkillers were also found in his system, but investigators said this did not indicate that he had been given an anaesthetic before his death.

Investigators remain uncertain about the direction of the gunshot and the nature of the entry and exit wounds, which have become a key point of discussion in the case. The initial post-mortem report indicated a gunshot wound to the chest from the front, while a subsequent report suggested that the victim had been shot from behind.

According to the sources, the chest wound measured around 38mm and was accompanied by burn marks on the shirt. In contrast, the wound on the back measured approximately 7mm, with no corresponding burn marks on the shirt.

“We are not challenging anything at this stage, but there is still confusion among investigators,” said a source familiar with the investigation.

The sources further said the victim’s kitchen was situated in the same area where his body was discovered, but it had reportedly been closed when he was killed.

Meanwhile, SSP RRF Mohammed Ali Raza, who serves as secretary of the investigation team, visited the crime scene along with other investigators. The victim’s father and complainant, Mir Husain, and the family’s lawyer, Jibran Nasir, also accompanied the team during the visit.