Sindh Home Minister Zia Ul Hassan Lanjar on Thursday tendered an “unconditional apology” before the judicial commission probing the murder of Karachi businessman Mir Raza Ali. The one-member commission, headed by Sindh High Court Justice Omar Sial, had summoned the provincial minister to clarify the interruption during its previous proceedings. Appearing before the commission, Lanjar said there had been a “misunderstanding” and apologised unconditionally.

“We want Mir Raza’s family to get justice, and whoever is involved in the case should be brought to justice,” Lanjar said. He assured the commission that the Sindh government would support its proceedings and would not seek to obstruct its work. Justice Sial told the minister that the purpose of summoning him was to help restore the confidence of the public and the victim’s family in the inquiry. He stressed that the family’s lawyers should be allowed to question witnesses before the commission.

Lanjar said the commission had the authority to allow anyone it deemed appropriate to ask questions and assured the judge that the provincial government would stand by the commission’s proceedings. During the previous hearing, the commission issued a notice to Lanjar after Sindh Advocate General Jawad Dero interrupted the proceedings and objected to the lawyer representing Mir Raza’s family asking questions.

The interruption occurred during the testimony of Karachi Police Surgeon Dr Summaiya Syed. In its order, the commission termed the interruption regrettable and said the advocate general had objected to the family’s counsel asking questions on behalf of the deceased’s family. The commission subsequently summoned the home minister to clarify whether the victim’s family could be prevented from questioning witnesses during the proceedings.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan (INP)