KARACHI: Police Surgeon Dr Summaiya Syed Tariq appeared before the judicial inquiry commission investigating the death of young Karachi businessman Mir Raza Ali and recorded her statement regarding the exhumation, second post-mortem and forensic findings.
During her testimony, Dr Summaiya told the commission that she had raised concerns about the case with Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) East Zubair Nazeer Sheikh on August 2, 2026. She subsequently recommended an exhumation through a letter dated August 3 and submitted another letter on August 5 seeking an exhumation and fresh post-mortem.
Dr Summaiya explained that medical boards are generally constituted on the basis of doctors’ expertise and experience. She said a court can direct the health secretary, director general of health services or police surgeon to constitute such a board.
According to Dr Summaiya, most of the experienced medical experts were initially included in the medical board formed in connection with Mir Raza’s case.
Medical board controversy
Dr Summaiya told the commission that the original medical board was later changed, with all members except her being replaced. She said she was unaware of the reason for the changes.
She further stated that a deputy secretary for health had verbally asked her to withdraw from the medical board.
Dr Summaiya said that on the day scheduled for the exhumation, Additional Inspector General Police (AIGP) Azad Khan sent an order from the Director General of Health Services allowing additional members to be included in the team.
Following a call from the additional IG, members of the previous medical team were also summoned for the exhumation, she said. However, the judicial magistrate later cancelled the exhumation proceedings.
The health secretary subsequently reinstated the previous medical board, according to Dr Summaiya.
She reiterated that the deputy health secretary had verbally instructed her to withdraw from the board.
“I told them that my name was included in the judicial magistrate’s order,” Dr Summaiya told the commission.
Dr Summaiya also claimed that she had received threats in connection with the Mir Raza case, adding another dimension to the ongoing judicial inquiry into the circumstances surrounding his death.
