Police have shared initial investigation details following the discovery of five members of a family dead inside a flat in Karachi’s Ahsanabad area, with authorities saying the bodies appeared to have been there for several days.
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The deceased included a husband, wife and their three children. Police initially said suicide was suspected, but stressed that the actual cause and circumstances of the deaths would only be established after postmortem examinations.
According to SSP East Zubair Nazir Sheikh, the bodies were found inside a single room on the seventh floor of the building. The apartment door was reportedly locked from the inside.
The deceased man, identified as Dr Umar, was a doctor and the family’s sole provider. Police said the bodies were shifted to Abbasi Shaheed Hospital after completion of the required legal formalities.
SSP Sheikh said investigators were examining the case from multiple angles to establish the identities of the deceased and determine what happened inside the apartment.
Police Investigate Doctor’s Employment and Financial Circumstances
According to police, Dr Umar had resigned from a private hospital on September 13 after being diagnosed with cancer.
A neighbour reportedly told investigators that the doctor had remained unemployed for a considerable period after his clinic closed but had recently secured employment at East City Hospital.
Police also said Dr Umar’s wife had attempted to sell the family’s oven the previous week. A neighbour who was approached did not purchase the appliance but instead provided the family with Rs2,000 in financial assistance.
Investigators said they searched the apartment after breaking down the door and found the key in Dr Umar’s possession. Police also said no mobile phone was found inside the apartment during the initial search.
A neighbour, Kamran, alerted police through the Madadgar 15 emergency helpline after noticing a strong and unpleasant smell 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 before the deaths, with the suspects taking his salary and other belongings.
Sindh Home Minister Zia-ul-Hassan Lanjar sought details from SSP East and directed him to brief him on the initial actions taken by police.
Lanjar also instructed authorities to conduct the investigation effectively and make its findings public.
Meanwhile, Sindh Inspector General of Police sought a detailed report from SSP East and directed investigators to conduct the inquiry transparently and impartially and complete it on the basis of evidence.
Police have said the investigation remains ongoing and that the postmortem examination will be crucial in determining the cause of death.
