KARACHI: Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Farukh Ali Lanjar’s answers to 27 questions from the judicial commission investigating the Mir Raza case have emerged, with the officer giving brief responses, often limited to “yes” or “no”, ARY News reported.
In his replies, Lanjar said he was serving as DIG Karachi East when the incident occurred on July 28 and 29. However, he denied knowing that Mir Raza’s father had reported his son missing on July 28 or that there had been a delay in registering the FIR.
Responding to questions about the investigation, Lanjar said he had been informed about the appointment of Samiullah Soomro as head of the investigation team. He also confirmed that he knew SP Usman Saduzai was outside Karachi.
DIG denies knowledge of key developments
The commission asked Lanjar whether he was the senior regional police officer responsible for operations and investigations in Karachi East. He responded that district SSPs head operations in their respective districts, while SSPs Investigation oversee investigations.
Lanjar denied knowing about the disclosure to the media of information regarding Mir Raza’s financial difficulties. He said he had neither approved nor objected to the release of such information because he was unaware of it.
He also denied recommending any changes to the investigation team or the investigation officer. Regarding the post-mortem report, Lanjar said the report and medical findings had not been shared with him. He further denied being informed about concerns regarding the initial post-mortem report.
Police surgeon’s letter and exhumation
Lanjar told the commission that the police surgeon had not contacted him through any official channel or official number. He said she had contacted him from an unknown number, but they could not speak.
He denied being informed about the police surgeon’s August 3 letter recommending exhumation or receiving any information about her concerns over the case.
Lanjar said he learned from the media on August 6 that a court had ordered the exhumation. He added that he learned on August 7 that the family had refused because of objections to the formation of the medical board.
Asked whether he had reviewed the special medical board’s findings, Lanjar said the results had not been sent to him, although he saw them while they were circulating in the media.
Dr Osama’s meeting and suicide angle
Lanjar confirmed that he knew Dr Osama had been called to the Chief Minister’s House on August 9 but denied asking the doctor to attend the meeting.
He also denied directing any subordinate officer to investigate the suicide angle or receiving instructions from a senior officer to treat the case as suicide. He said no political figure or government official had contacted him to influence the direction of the investigation.
The DIG further denied knowing about reports concerning Mir Raza’s debts and family problems before evidence emerged publicly.
However, he told the commission that details of an ongoing investigation should not be published on media platforms, as doing so could affect the investigation and create a public narrative before the facts were established.
No consultation over investigation team change
Asked about the reconstitution of the investigation team in August, Lanjar said no consultation had taken place with him and no reasons for the change had been communicated.
He denied that the transfer of the investigation had affected his authority to take action against officers accused of negligence, saying he had already initiated action against personnel found negligent.
However, when asked whether he had initiated any departmental review after the investigation was transferred, Lanjar replied in the negative.
