JIT granted 10 days to complete Mir Raza case probe

ISLAMABAD BUREAU —A Judicial Magistrate East court has granted a Joint Investigation Team (JIT) an additional 10 days to complete its investigation into the Mir Raza case and submit its report. During the hearing, JIT investigating officer DSP Fareed Khan appeared before the court and requested additional time to complete the investigation and prepare the charge sheet.

He initially sought 14 days, informing the court that the JIT had held its first meeting on November 7 and submitted the minutes of the meeting. The court granted 10 days and directed the team to keep it informed about the proceedings through meeting minutes. Meanwhile, the JIT held its second meeting, lasting approximately four hours, at the DIG West Office.

The meeting was chaired by JIT head and DIG West Irfan Baloch and attended by officials from various intelligence agencies and law enforcement departments. According to investigation sources, the team reviewed different aspects of the case and sought further information from Mir Raza's family.

The JIT also recorded statements from several police officials, including Ferozabad SIO Shabbir Laghari, CIA officer Ghaus Bakhsh Awan, investigating officer DSP Siraj Lashari, former Ferozabad SHO Adeel Afzal and former Gulistan-e-Jauhar SHO Kamran Qureshi. Statements of Mir Raza's business partner, Ahmed Bharde, and his brother were also recorded.

Sources said further questioning of Ahmed Bharde would continue. Representatives of the Citizens-Police Liaison Committee (CPLC), who are assisting in the investigation, briefed the JIT on their findings. The CPLC will continue providing assistance to the investigation team. Sources said the JIT has also launched an investigation into Mir Raza's social media accounts, financial transactions and business dealings.

The team has decided to summon, in phases, individuals who had financial or business dealings with Mir Raza to record their statements. Investigators will also expand the scope of questioning of his business partners. The JIT will review all previous investigations into the case afresh and has directed the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) to re-examine the technical aspects and prepare a report.

During its next meeting, the JIT is also expected to re-record statements of several members of the previous investigation team. Their statements and findings will be used to broaden the scope of the ongoing investigation.