Karachi: The proceedings of the judicial commission investigating the death of businessman Mir Raza Ali were adjourned on Monday after its 30 day tenure expired, as the Sindh cabinet considers a request to extend the inquiry until 15 October.

The one member commission, headed by Sindh High Court Justice Omar Sial, was informed that Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah had approved the extension request and forwarded it to the provincial cabinet for a final decision. The cabinet is expected to consider the matter at a meeting on 1 October.

The commission adjourned proceedings until 10am on 2 October. If the cabinet approves the extension, it will issue fresh notices to the remaining witnesses and send questionnaires to three senior police officers. If the extension is not approved, the commission will prepare its report based on the evidence and statements already recorded.

The commission has been examining the circumstances surrounding Ali’s death, as well as possible shortcomings in the initial police investigation and the medical examination. It has raised questions about the handling of CCTV footage, the crime scene, and discrepancies in the first post mortem examination.

Ali, a 25 year old businessman and IBA graduate, went missing on 28 July. His body was recovered the following day in Karachi’s Gulistan e Jauhar. The initial investigation considered suicide as a possibility, while his family maintained that he had been abducted and murdered.

His body was later exhumed for a second post-mortem examination. The final report concluded that he died from a gunshot wound to the back and that the findings were inconsistent with suicide. A murder charge was subsequently added to the case.

Ali’s family has also raised concerns about the police investigation. His sister, Alishba, and family lawyer, Jibran Nasir, have said they intend to seek the formation of an empowered joint investigation team to identify and arrest those responsible for his death.