A Karachi court on Wednesday approved a petition by the parents of 25-year-old aspiring businessman and former Institute of Business Administration (IBA) student Mir Raza Ali Khan to exhume their son's body and constitute a medical board for a fresh examination, after the family said it had lost confidence in the investigation into his death.
The court's order marks the latest development in the case, which has drawn public attention amid the family's allegations of shortcomings in the police investigation and post-mortem process.
Why did the family seek exhumation?
The family's lawyer, Jibran Nasir, said the parents had sought the exhumation with "heavy hearts" in the hope of uncovering the truth and identifying those responsible for their son's death.
Speaking to reporters outside the court, Nasir said the family had approached the court after learning through media reports that the police surgeon had written a letter questioning the handling of the post-mortem. He criticized the investigation, saying authorities had effectively "conducted a post-mortem of the post-mortem."
Nasir said it was the police's responsibility to investigate the case, but the family had been compelled to seek judicial intervention to ensure a transparent probe.
Despite the criticism, Nasir said the family did not regard the police as adversaries and wanted investigators to support the grieving parents rather than create further uncertainty.
What happened to Mir Raza Ali?
Police are investigating Khan's death after his body was found with a gunshot wound to the chest in bushes near Shahi Qila in Gulistan-i-Jauhar, opposite the University of Karachi.
He was found two days after going missing. His family alleges he was abducted from his home in PECHS Block-2 before his body was recovered.
What concerns has the family raised?
Khan's father, Mir Hussain Ali, said inconsistencies in official records had further eroded the family's confidence in the investigation. He pointed to what he described as a discrepancy in the timeline, saying the body was recovered on the 29th while the report referred to the 28th.
Rejecting suggestions that financial difficulties contributed to his son's death, Ali said the family wanted investigators to establish the motive behind what they believe was a murder. He questioned why his son would have travelled so far from home to take his own life.
What else has Khan's father alleged?
Ali alleged that Dr. Osama, whom he accused of preparing an incorrect report, had not met the family despite their concerns.
Describing the decision to seek exhumation as deeply painful, he said the family had taken the step solely to secure justice for their son. He further alleged that police officials privately believed the case was a murder but had stopped short of saying so publicly.
Ali also complained that developments in the investigation were being disclosed to the media before they were communicated to the family. He said he remained hopeful that the court's approval of the exhumation would help move the investigation forward and ultimately lead to justice.
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