Murder victim Mustafa Amir’s body was exhumed and samples were collected for a DNA test on 21-February-2025. Typically, one or two samples are taken for DNA profiling. However, since this was a charred body — and burned bodies are often incomplete, with fire intensity posing a risk to the samples — the exhumation board collected not just one or two but 11 samples, including teeth, bones, and deep muscle swabs, to establish the victim’s identity through DNA profiling. The report is expected to be available within a week.
Additionally, the exhumation board gathered also some other samples for chemical examination, though there is little likelihood that these will determine the exact cause of death. The recovered remains have been placed in the Edhi morgue until the identification process is completed. If the DNA results confirm that the remains belong to Mustafa Amir, they will be handed over to his parents. Due to the severity of the burns, the body had significantly shrunk. The collected samples have been sent to Karachi University’s forensic laboratory. Police surgeon Dr Summaiya Syed, who led the exhumation team, told The News that the medical team’s initial findings indicated that the remains were completely burned, with parts of the legs and arms missing. The investigation remains ongoing as authorities await the DNA results to confirm the victim’s identity.
The exhumed remains have presented a new challenge to the investigating police, as forensic experts indicate that while DNA identification is possible, determining the exact cause and time of death may be extremely difficult — if not impossible. This has deepened the mystery surrounding the case, particularly the crucial question: was Mustafa Amir alive when he was set on fire, or had he already been killed? Globally, forensic science plays a key role in establishing the cause and time of death, but in this case, investigators now have little to rely on besides the confessional statements of the arrested suspects.
A senior investigating officer told The News that they had hoped forensic science would provide crucial answers, but it now appears unlikely. “Our only remaining approach is to confront the suspects with each other’s statements and verify the facts through interrogation,” the officer stated. With forensic limitations adding complexity to the case, investigators must now rely on confessions and circumstantial evidence to piece together what really happened to Mustafa Amir.
The investigating officer also stated that apparently, no bullet was found, and based on the statements of the arrested suspects, it appears that Mustafa was alive when he was set on fire. However, we cannot reach a conclusion yet because our investigation is still ongoing.
Additionally, forensic science does not currently provide any means to determine whether Mustafa was alive or dead at the time he was burned. Therefore, we are still relying on the statements of both suspects and are confronting their accounts to reach a conclusion in this case. The officer further stated that both suspects would be presented before the trial court today (Saturday) to obtain an extension of their remand. This is necessary because there are still many aspects of the investigation that require further interrogation and confrontation of the suspects. It is also being reported that Armaghan, the prime suspect, may be included in the investigation and interrogated in a case registered under the Anti-Terrorism Act and attempted murder against unknown individuals in District East.
Speaking to The News, Saad Edhi confirmed that after the exhumation, a medical examination was conducted, and the remains were transferred to the Edhi morgue. “We have been instructed by the authorities to keep the body in the morgue until the report is finalized,” he stated. He added that if the remains are confirmed to be of Mustafa Amir, they will be handed over to his family for burial in a cemetery of their choice. However, if the identification does not match, the remains will be reburied in the same grave.
Saad Edhi described the condition of the body, stating that it was burned to such an extent—possibly third or fourth-degree burns — that the skull had fused with the neck, and the hands and feet had shriveled. “When we attempted to move the body, it was literally disintegrating,” he said.
In response to a question, he clarified that the Edhi/CPLC Shanakht team cannot determine identity in such cases. Identification will only be possible through DNA profiling based on collected samples.
On January 12, the Hub police had declared Mustafa’s body unclaimed and handed it over to Edhi authorities. Subsequently, the body was buried at the Edhi cemetery in Keamari on January 16. Meanwhile, Mustafa’s family and social activists held a “Justice for Mustafa” event on Friday night at Teen Talwar. A large-scale effort was made to invite people, including social activists and influencers, urging them to participate actively to ensure justice for Mustafa.
Published in News Daily on 22-February-2025.