KARACHI: Post-mortem examinations of five members of a family found dead inside a flat in Karachi’s Ahsanabad area have been completed, while police said no signs of torture or injuries caused by a sharp-edged weapon were found on the bodies.
Police Surgeon Dr Samia said samples collected from different parts of the bodies had been sent to a laboratory for chemical examination. She said the final cause of death would be established after the laboratory report is received.
The deceased were identified as doctor Umar, his wife and their three children. Their bodies were recovered from the same room inside their flat after police broke open the door following information from neighbours.
According to a neighbour, the family had moved into the flat in February 2024 and had been facing financial difficulties. The deceased doctor had also opened a clinic in the area, but it reportedly failed to generate sufficient income.
The neighbour further told police that the family had recently faced an incident, although details of the incident were not immediately available. Police were alerted after a strong foul smell reportedly started coming from the flat.
Following the information, police reached the residence and broke open the door. The bodies of the husband, wife and their three children were subsequently recovered from inside the premises.
The Crime Scene Unit also visited the location and collected evidence as part of the investigation. The bodies were later shifted to Abbasi Shaheed Hospital, where post-mortem examinations were conducted.
Meanwhile, police officials said they had established contact with doctor Umar’s brother, Abu Bakr, and his father-in-law, who are currently in Punjab. The bodies will be handed over to the family after the relatives arrive in Karachi.
Police have not yet announced the cause of death, stressing that the chemical examination report will be important in determining what happened to the family.
Investigators are continuing to examine evidence collected from the flat and information provided by neighbours and relatives. Authorities are expected to determine the circumstances surrounding the deaths after receiving the laboratory findings and completing other investigative procedures.
