'Shame on you': Raza commission tears into police probe

The Mir Raza judicial commission on Tuesday subjected the police investigation to intense scrutiny, exposing contradictions in witness statements and sharply questioning ASP Nida Junaid over her unexplained involvement in the probe, her handling of a sensitive audio note and her contacts with witnesses despite not being part of the investigation team. The commission, headed by Justice Umar Sial, also questioned the credibility of the police's financial-distress narrative after business associates contradicted portions of their statements attributed to them by investigators. During proceedings, Raza's business partner Abid Farooq told the commission that he had made two investments of Rs7 million each in Raza's business but had no written agreement with him. He said the two relied on WhatsApp correspondence. Asked whether Raza had ever complained about financial difficulties or business losses, Farooq said he had not. He said their relationship was friendly. The commission later recorded the statement of Sarmad, a witness appearing through video link from Malaysia. He said Raza contacted him on July 27 and urgently sought Rs30 million, telling him that his life depended on the money. He declined to provide the money and later found that a message from Raza had been deleted. By July 28, he said, Raza's WhatsApp was no longer available. The most contentious portion of the proceedings centred on ASP Nida Junaid. Nida said she became involved because she was the only female ASP in the zone and had been asked by the then investigation-team head, SSP Samiullah Soomro, to assist in interviewing women. Justice Sial repeatedly questioned why she had been involved in the case when she was not formally part of the investigation team. He also questioned why Ali Shahzad, a male witness, had approached her and why she had received a sensitive audio note from him. Nida said Shahzad came to her office voluntarily on August 6 and offered to assist the investigation. She said she made it clear that the case did not fall under her jurisdiction and directed him towards the investigation officer. However, she said she considered an audio note Shahzad provided potentially relevant evidence and forwarded it to SSP Samiullah Soomro. The judge also questioned how the audio subsequently reached the media. Nida maintained that she had not shared it with anyone except SSP. The commission also questioned Nida over her alleged request for Raza's phone password from his fiancée. Nida said she had sought it on the instructions of SSP Soomro, although the phone itself was never in her possession. Justice Sial then remarked, "shame on you."