High-powered body to probe death of family in ‘locked flat’ in Karachi's Ahsanabad

Karachi police have formed a high-powered investigative body to probe the mysterious death of five family members in a locked apartment, according to Inspector General of Police (IGP) Javed Alam Odho. The victims, Dr Umer, 45, Mehwish, 35, their 10-year-old daughter Zainab, and two other minor daughters, were found dead inside a room on the seventh floor of the Ahsanabad apartment building on Sunday. The bodies were recovered after the locked door was forcibly opened.

City police chief Azad Khan told Dawn that the exact cause of death has not yet been determined; however, he confirmed that Dr Umer was facing financial difficulties and had been diagnosed with kidney cancer. He had recently resigned from his job at a private hospital on September 15, claiming he was moving to Punjab for treatment. No evidence of homicide has been found so far, but the high-powered team will investigate the incident thoroughly, leaving no aspect overlooked.

Neighbours have reportedly stated that the doctor had been a victim of street crime, and they noticed financial hardships faced by the family. The kitchen and refrigerator in the apartment were empty, and no money was found. Dr Umer stopped visiting the hospital he worked at since August, without informing anyone. City police chief Khan stated that the family's relatives arrived in the city to conduct a thorough search at the crime scene.