KARACHI: Five members of the same family, including two young girls, were found dead at a house in a private housing society in Karachi’s Gulshan-e-Hadeed area, prompting police to launch an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the deaths.
Rescue officials identified the deceased as 40-year-old Shahzaib, his 40-year-old wife, Saba, their daughters Ezel, five, and Arya, four, and Shahzaib’s 18-year-old sister, Shamaila.
The bodies were shifted to a hospital, while police reached the scene and collected evidence as part of the investigation.
According to preliminary information, the incident appeared to involve suspected suicide. However, investigators have begun examining all possible explanations to establish what happened inside the house.
Investigators said Shahzaib had allegedly left a note before his death, in which he referred to financial difficulties. The contents of the note are expected to form part of the ongoing inquiry.
Police said the bodies were discovered in a ground-floor room whose door was locked from the inside. Shahzaib and his wife had sustained gunshot wounds, according to the police account.
Meanwhile, Sindh Inspector General of Police Javed Alam Odho sought a report from the deputy inspector general concerned and ordered a transparent and impartial investigation into the incident.
He directed the authorities to collect evidence from the scene, conduct forensic examinations and fulfil all legal requirements.
The provincial police chief also called for immediate steps to determine whether any criminal element was involved and instructed officials to keep him informed of developments in the investigation.
The exact circumstances and cause of the five deaths had not been conclusively established in the initial reports.
