The Sindh Home Department on Monday notified the formation of a judicial commission to probe the

A day earlier, the. Sindh government had requestedthe chief justice of the SHC to constitute a judicial commission to investigate the murder of Ali, saying that the provincial government had taken the concerns raised by Ali’s family “extremely seriously” and that a letter sent by the family to the chief minister had been received.

The commission has been constituted at the request of the provincial government, even as Mir Raza’s family has challenged the move before the SHC and sought a joint investigation team (JIT) to probe his murder., issued under the Sindh Tribunals of Inquiry Ordinance, 1969, the commission has been assigned four key terms of reference (To. Rs).

It will determine the circumstances and motives surrounding Mir Raza’s death, assess whether the investigation has been impartial and examine whether any police officer or other official was negligent or involved in concealing evidence.

The commission will also recommend further investigation, forensic analysis and legal action, where necessary. The notification states that the commission will have judicial powers, including the authority to summon witnesses, record statements on oath and requisition documents.

After police initially described the death as a suicide, a second post-mortem examination confirmed that he had been murdered. The revelation triggered outrage across the city, with civil society, lawyers, traders and students calling for the culprits to be brought to justice.

Meanwhile, Mir Raza’s family has challenged the formation of the judicial commission before the SHC and sought a JIT comprising representatives of the Sindh Police, Rangers, Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), Intelligence Bureau (IB), Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and Military Intelligence (MI).

A two-member constitutional bench headed by Justice Adnan-ul-Karim Memon took up the family’s petition on Monday and issued notices to the respondents, seeking their replies by August 31.

They said the provincial chief secretary decided on August 22 to constitute the judicial commission without consulting the family or discussing its To.

Rs with them. The family argued that it was not opposed to an inquiry into alleged institutional failures but objected to using a judicial commission as a substitute for a criminal investigation. “Police are required to identify suspects, collect evidence and submit a charge sheet, whereas a judicial commission cannot perform these functions,” the petition states.

The family has also sought an investigation into the role of DIG East Farrukh Ali Lanjhar and other police officers involved in the probe, alleging that investigative lapses had compromised the case.

The bench also restrained the existing investigation team from finalising the probe or submitting the final charge sheet while the petition remains pending. Separately, the Judicial Magistrate East granted investigating officer Siraj Lashari further time to submit a progress report in the murder case.

Lashari reports of Mir Raza’s mobile phone and other items were still awaited. The magistrate accepted the request and directed him to submit the report by September 7. Speaking to reporters after the hearing, Nasir said the family wanted a transparent investigation and questioned the handling of CCTV footage and other evidence.

They include police officials associated with the investigation and doctors who conducted Mir Raza’s post-mortem examination. Family rejects judicial commissionA day earlier, Ali's family rejected the Sindh government's decision on the formation of a judicial commission, saying it was neither consulted nor informed about the proposed judicial commission.

Ali's father, Mir Hassan, told. The Express Tribunethat he did not have confidence in the [government’s] move and would approach the SHC to seek the constitution of a JIT to probe his son's death. Read more:Police piece together final hours, death of Mir Raza Ali.

In a video message uploaded to social media yesterday, Ali's sister said the family learnt of the decision through the media and had not been informed of the TOR or the grounds for constituting the commission. Tomorrow Police is to submit investigation report before Magistrate.

Jibran Nasir 🇵🇸 (@MJibran. Nasir)August 23, 2026The family’s legal counsel in the case also questioned the timing of the judicial commission, asking if the Sindh government knew the outcome of the police report scheduled for submission before the magistrate today and disagreed with it.

He said the family would approach the SHC to form a JIT, adding that, “Forming a judicial commission without informing the family of Ali nor making the TOR of the inquiry public.