Mir Raza Ali case: Probe gains momentum as investigators seek 'WhatsApp data'
- By Afzal Khan -
- Aug 23, 2026
KARACHI: The investigation into the murder of Mir Raza Ali has gained fresh momentum, with investigators securing a mobile SIM registered in his name, ARY News reported on Sunday, citing police sources.
According to sources, the SIM was issued by the mobile phone operator following a request from the police. The ownership of the SIM was subsequently transferred to Mir Raza Ali’s mother after completion of the required biometric verification and documentation formalities.
Investigators are now expected to use the SIM to gain access to Mir Raza Ali’s WhatsApp account and retrieve its backed-up data. The move is aimed at obtaining potentially crucial information that could help investigators establish important leads and advance the probe.
Sources said data recovered from the WhatsApp account could prove significant in determining key details surrounding the case and may assist investigators in uncovering further evidence.
Meanwhile, the investigative committee has reconstructed a timeline of his final hours, based on information from sources cited by ARY News.
Investigators say deceased Mir Raza spent much of the period trying to arrange investment and secure loans.
At 05:54 on 27 July 2026, he met a man identified as Ahmed Raja on Shahrah-e-Faisal in Karachi. The two reportedly discussed an investment of between Rs.7-8 million.
At 07:05 PM, Mir Raza received a call from a bank informing him that a Rs.10 million loan in his sister’s name had been approved. A previous loan application had reportedly been rejected.
At 08:23 PM, Farooq Mahmood called Mir Raza Ali and said he was unable to proceed with an investment, according to investigators.
Later, at 11:50 PM, Mir Raza had a meal with his friend Abdul Razzaq at Ghaffar Kabab House.
At midnight, he reportedly contacted Sarim Syed seeking an emergency loan of Rs. 30 million. The request was said to be urgent, with Mir Raza indicating that arranging the money the following morning would be extremely difficult.
Investigators also found a prayer on his smartwatch relating to financial independence and repayment of debt.
At 12:23 AM, Mir Raza reportedly deactivated his Instagram account while at home. At 02:42 AM, his Facebook, LinkedIn, and Snapchat accounts were also deactivated.
At around 03:10 AM, his fiancée made several calls and sent messages, but received no response. She reportedly became concerned after noticing that his social-media accounts had disappeared.
According to investigation sources, at 03:18 AM, Mir Raza transferred money from his accounts to accounts belonging to his parents.
At 03:42 AM, he went from his home to his shop and reportedly took a security guard’s pistol before leaving. He returned home with the weapon at 03:53 AM.
At 04:09 AM, Mir Raza left home in an online taxi. Investigators say that at 04:22 AM, during the journey, he switched off his mobile phone and threw it outside the vehicle.
At 04:35 AM, the taxi brought him close to the reported scene. Three minutes later, he was seen on CCTV walking alone towards the location.
The final available footage reportedly places him around 100 to 150 metres from the location where his body was later found.