By: News Desk 92Pavilion | Updated: August 17, 2026
Quick Answer: Young people in Hyderabad have joined the growing protest movement demanding justice for Mir Raza Ali, the 25-year-old Wafflix owner whose death in late July has sparked weeks of demonstrations across Sindh. What began as protests by Ali’s family and friends in Karachi has spread to other cities, with demonstrators demanding accountability over what they call a mishandled investigation. Protests in Karachi entered their sixteenth consecutive day this week.
How the Case Began
Mir Raza Ali, a 25-year-old IBA graduate and owner of the Karachi-based dessert brand Wafflix, went missing on the night of July 28 after telling his family he would return home within ten minutes. His body was recovered the next day from the Gulistan-e-Jauhar area. Police initially suggested he may have died by suicide amid financial difficulties, a conclusion his family firmly rejected from the start.
Why the Family Demanded a New Investigation
Ali’s family and lawyer, prominent rights activist Jibran Nasir, maintained that he had been murdered after being tortured. Their claims gained weight after Karachi Police Surgeon Dr Summaiya Syed identified 14 deficiencies in the initial postmortem report. A second postmortem later found that Ali had suffered a gunshot wound to his upper back, along with bruises at multiple places on his body.
Following the family’s persistent doubts about the original investigation, Sindh Police IG Javed Alam Odho announced a new four-member investigation team, headed by DIG Crime Branch Amir Farooqui. Officials said the original team had been removed from the case after the initial medical findings raised concerns.
Protests Spread Across Sindh
What started as demonstrations by Ali’s relatives and close friends in Karachi quickly grew into a broader movement, largely driven by young people demanding accountability. Protesters have gathered at multiple locations across Karachi, including Bahadurabad and Tariq Road, chanting slogans against what they describe as an attempted cover-up. As of this week, the Karachi protests had continued for sixteen consecutive days.
The movement has since extended beyond Karachi. In Hyderabad, young demonstrators gathered to voice solidarity with Ali’s family, carrying banners demanding justice and adding their voices to a campaign that has increasingly drawn attention from across the province.
Celebrities Join the Movement
The case has also drawn support from Pakistan’s entertainment industry. Actors Shuja Asad and Azlan Shah attended a protest in Bahadurabad, standing alongside Ali’s family and friends. Asad urged more public figures to show up in person rather than simply posting online, saying even a brief appearance at the demonstrations mattered. Actresses Mahira Khan, Bushra Ansari, and Saboor Aly also voiced support for the family through social media.
Political Tensions Over the Case
The investigation has also created friction between coalition partners at the federal level. Advocate Jibran Nasir publicly criticised the Sindh Home Minister and the PPP-led Sindh government, accusing them of targeting Dr Summaiya Syed for raising concerns about the postmortem report, rather than addressing the underlying investigation.
What Protesters Are Demanding
Demonstrators across Karachi and Hyderabad have called for the immediate arrest of those responsible for Ali’s death. Some protesters have also demanded the suspension of senior police officials, including the DIG East and the SHO of Ferozabad Police Station, whom they accuse of delaying the investigation and allegedly mishandling evidence.
What Comes Next
For now, the newly constituted investigation team continues its work, with a medical board still awaiting the results of chemical and toxicology analysis to help determine the exact cause of death. Meanwhile, protests continue to spread across Sindh, with families like Ali’s holding onto hope that sustained public pressure will bring the answers they have been demanding since late July.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Mir Raza Ali?
He was a 25-year-old IBA graduate and owner of the Karachi-based dessert brand Wafflix, who went missing on July 28 and was found dead the next day.
Why do protesters believe the case was mishandled?
Police initially suggested Ali’s death was a suicide, but his family and a police surgeon identified deficiencies in the postmortem report, leading to claims of murder and a cover-up.
Has a new investigation team been formed?
Yes. Sindh Police IG Javed Alam Odho constituted a new four-member team, headed by DIG Crime Branch Amir Farooqui.
Why did protests spread to Hyderabad?
Young people in Hyderabad joined the movement in solidarity with Ali’s family, reflecting how the case has grown into a wider demand for accountability across Sindh.
This report is based on reporting from Arab News, The Express Tribune, Dunya News, and ThePrint.
92Pavilion brings you Sindh’s city and community news as it happens. Stay with us for updates on this developing story.
