KARACHI: The manager of late entrepreneur Mir Raza Ali on Tuesday told a judicial commission that he faced coercive treatment and pressure during the police investigation into Ali’s death.
Sherry, who worked as a manager at the cafe, appeared before the commission and recorded his statement regarding the circumstances surrounding Ali’s death.
During the hearing, Sherry said he had never seen Mir Raza involved in any argument or dispute with vendors or investors.
He told the commission that police investigators questioned him about how long he had been working at Wafflex and asked personal questions about Mir Raza’s family, including his parents’ separation and his father Mir Hussain’s second marriage.
Sherry said there had been an order for an event in Hyderabad on July 25, and Mir Raza and Ahmed Bharde had travelled there for the event.
The commission questioned Sherry about whether Mir Raza and Ahmed had taken money with them. Sherry denied taking any money from him.
Justice Omar Sial pointed out that Sherry had reportedly told police that they had taken Rs29,000. Sherry denied giving such a statement to police.
He said he did not read the statement he gave to police after it had been written down.
Manager denies seeing dispute
Sherry reiterated that he had never witnessed Mir Raza having a fight or dispute with any vendor or investor.
He also told the commission that the shop’s CCTV access was not with Ahmed Bharde.
According to Sherry, investigators also questioned him about whether Mir Raza used drugs. He said he told police that Mir Raza did not use drugs.
Sherry alleged that one investigator became angry after he denied that Mir Raza used drugs and stood up from his chair.
During the hearing, Advocate Jibran Nasir identified the investigator as an officer named SP Qais.
The commission later asked Sherry what he believed had happened to Mir Raza.
“I can only say that Mir Raza did not commit suicide,” Sherry told the commission.
Sherry further alleged that police officers had abused him during the earlier stages of the investigation. He said police had also stopped him from participating in protests seeking justice for Mir Raza and prevented him from meeting the deceased’s family.
He said another investigation team questioned him about Mir Raza’s mental health, debts and alleged drug use, as well as asking personal questions about his family.
Sherry alleged that the officer identified as Qais became angry when he denied that Mir Raza used drugs.
Mir Raza Ali death case
The case dates back to July 29, when Mir Raza Ali’s body was found in Karachi’s Gulistan-i-Jauhar area with a gunshot wound, a day after he was reported missing.
A day earlier, Police Surgeon Dr Summaiya Sayed Tariq appeared before the judicial inquiry commission and recorded her statement regarding the case.
Mir Raza case: Dr Summaiya Syed claims receiving threats
Dr Summaiya also told the commission that she had put her career and employment at risk by pursuing the case.
She alleged that she had been followed by a person on a motorcycle for two days and had received threats.
