KARACHI: A court barred Muhammad Ahmed Bhardey from leaving Karachi without permission on Saturday and ordered him to cooperate in the Mir Raza murder investigation.
Bhardey, a childhood friend and business partner of Mir Raza Ali, appeared before Karachi City Court with his lawyer, Advocate Khalid Mumtaz. The court was hearing his application for interim pre-arrest bail.
The judge directed Bhardey’s lawyer to decide by the next hearing whether to pursue or withdraw the bail application. The proceedings were adjourned until August 24, according to the court report.
Mumtaz alleged that police had harassed his client during the investigation. Lawyer Jibran Nasir rejected the allegation, saying investigators had questioned 35 witnesses and summoned Bhardey as part of the inquiry.
Bhardey told the court that he appeared before police whenever summoned and was prepared to continue cooperating. An additional district and sessions judge had earlier granted him interim pre-arrest bail against a surety bond of Rs 100,000.
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Mumtaz said Bhardey managed the partners’ Five Star Chowrangi business branch while Raza operated the Bahadurabad branch.
Raza disappeared on July 28 after leaving his home in PECHS Block 2. Police recovered his bullet-riddled body the following day near Shahi Qila Ground in Gulistan-i-Jauhar, opposite the University of Karachi.
Sindh police formed a special investigation team led by Deputy Inspector General Amir Farooqi. Deputy Superintendent of Police Siraj Lashari was assigned to investigate the killing.
