Former Gulistan-i-Jauhar station house officer (SHO) Kamran Qureshi was dismissed from police service on Saturday over misconduct and negligence in handling the crime scene in the Mir Raza Ali murder case.
The dismissal follows the findings of a judicial commission constituted by the Sindh government, which last month recommended an inquiry against Qureshi over his possible role in facilitating the destruction of evidence.
Qureshi had previously been suspended from duty. Following the commission’s recommendations, the Sindh Home Department directed the provincial police chief to take action against officials found responsible for negligence.
According to the dismissal order seen by Dawn, Qureshi failed to secure the location where Ali’s body was discovered and did not summon the Crime Scene Unit (CSU), as required under police regulations.
The order stated that these failures prevented the timely processing of the crime scene, delayed forensic examination and potentially resulted in the loss of crucial circumstantial evidence.
The authorities described his conduct as gross misconduct, inefficiency and dereliction of duty, making him liable to major disciplinary punishment under the Sindh Police (Efficiency and Discipline) Rules, 1988.
An inquiry conducted by Central Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Muhammad Imran Khan found that Qureshi had failed to fulfil his responsibilities concerning the preservation of the crime scene and collection of evidence.
The inquiry further established that the former SHO had not even visited the crime scene, despite his responsibility to ensure that appropriate investigative procedures were followed.
On the basis of these findings, the Central SSP recommended that Qureshi be awarded a major disciplinary punishment.
The dismissal order also noted that Qureshi failed to submit a written response to a show-cause notice issued to him during the disciplinary proceedings.
He was subsequently summoned to an orderly room hearing on November 13, where he was given an opportunity to explain his conduct in person.
However, the authorities found his oral explanation unsatisfactory, concluding that he had failed to provide convincing grounds to challenge the allegations against him.
“His oral explanation has been considered and found unsatisfactory, as he could not add any cogent reason to repudiate the allegations levelled against him,” the order stated.
The competent authority consequently accepted the inquiry officer’s recommendation and ordered Qureshi’s dismissal from service.
“Therefore, agreeing with the recommendation of the inquiry officer, he is hereby awarded major punishment of dismissal from service,” the order concluded.
The disciplinary action follows scrutiny of the police investigation into Ali’s murder, particularly the failure to preserve potentially significant forensic and circumstantial evidence.
While the judicial commission had raised concerns about possible facilitation of evidence destruction, the dismissal order specifically cited Qureshi’s failure to secure the crime scene, summon forensic personnel and discharge his official responsibilities.