Mir Raza commissionrejects family's plea tosummon top cops

The Judicial Commission probing the Mir Raza Ali case has rejected a request by his family to summon senior police officers in person, directing the family instead to submit their questions in writing. The written order issued by the commission, headed by Justice Umar Sial, said statements of Health Secretary Tahir Sanghi, Director General Health Shahryar Memon and SSP Dr Samiullah Soomro had been recorded during the proceedings. The Mir Raza family had requested the commission to summon the AIG Azad Khan, DIG Amir Farooqi and DIG Farukh Lanjhar in person. However, the commission said it had already made it clear on September 17 that senior police officers would not be summoned personally. "The family can submit its questions for the senior police officers in writing," the order said, adding that the questions would be forwarded to the relevant officers. The commission observed that no material had emerged during the proceedings warranting a change in its earlier decision. "Changing the commission's orders without any reason would undermine public confidence in the commission," the order stated. The commission rejected the family's request for the personal appearance of the senior police officers and allowed it to submit questions by September 26. "If the commission finds the questions relevant and appropriate, I will forward them to the concerned officers," the order said. Commenting on the statement of SSP Soomro, the commission said it was not particularly satisfied with his performance. "Although I am not very satisfied with the performance of SSP Soomro, I appreciate that he acknowledged his shortcomings without any rhetoric or excuses and answered the questions in a highly courteous manner," the order stated. The commission adjourned further proceedings until September 28.