KARACHI: The bodies of a family of five, including a husband, wife and their three children, were found inside a flat in Karachi’s Ahsanabad area on Sunday, with police suspecting that the family may have died by suicide.
According to Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) East Zubair Nazir Sheikh, the bodies were discovered in a room on the seventh floor of the building. The apartment door was locked from the inside when police arrived.
The bodies were several days old and were shifted to Abbasi Shaheed Hospital after the completion of legal formalities.
Police launch investigation
SSP East said the deceased man, identified as Dr Umar, was a doctor and the family’s sole provider. He said the actual cause of death would only be established after postmortem examinations.
Police are investigating the incident from multiple angles to identify the circumstances surrounding the deaths and determine what happened inside the apartment.
A neighbour told police that Dr Umar had remained unemployed for a considerable period after his clinic closed. He had, however, recently secured a job at East City Hospital.
Police later said Dr Umar had resigned from a private hospital on September 13 after being diagnosed with cancer.
During the initial investigation, officers conducted a detailed search of the apartment but did not find a mobile phone. Police also said the apartment key was found in Dr Umar’s possession after officers broke down the door to enter.
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Neighbours provide details
Police said Dr Umar’s wife had attempted to sell the family’s oven during the previous week. A neighbour did not purchase the oven but provided the family with Rs2,000 in financial assistance.
Kamran, a neighbour who alerted police through the Madadgar 15 helpline, said a strong and unbearable smell had been coming from the apartment.
Speaking to journalists, Kamran said Dr Umar and his children had not been seen for several days. He described the doctor as a decent person who worked at a private hospital.
Kamran also told reporters that Dr Umar had allegedly been robbed several days earlier and that the robbers had taken his salary and other belongings.
Authorities order transparent probe
Sindh Home Minister Zia-ul-Hassan Lanjar sought details from SSP East and directed him to brief him on the initial police actions taken in the case.
He called for an effective investigation and said its findings should be made public.
Sindh Inspector General of Police also sought a detailed report from SSP East and directed authorities to ensure that the investigation was transparent, impartial and completed promptly on the basis of evidence and merit.
The final cause and circumstances of the deaths will be established after the postmortem examinations and further investigation.
