Five members of the same family, including two young girls, were found dead inside a flat in Falak Naz Society in Karachi’s Gulshan-e-Hadeed area, prompting Sindh Inspector General of Police (IGP) Javed Alam Odho to seek an immediate report from the DIG East.
Police identified the deceased as 40-year-old Shahzeb, his wife Saba, their daughters Eezal, 5, and Arya, 4, and Shahzeb’s 18-year-old sister, Shumaila.
According to police, the incident appears to be a case of collective suicide, although an investigation is underway to determine the exact circumstances surrounding the deaths.
Bullet wounds found on couple
Police said bullet wounds were found on the heads of Shahzeb and his wife, whose bodies were discovered on two sofas inside the flat. Shahzeb had a gunshot wound to his right temple, while Saba had a wound to her left temple.
A pistol was reportedly found in Saba’s lap, while the bodies of Shumaila and the two girls were discovered on a bed.
The flat was locked from the inside when police arrived at the scene. Investigators suspect that the two girls may have been poisoned before being killed, although the circumstances and cause of their deaths have yet to be established.
Police personnel, crime scene investigators, Edhi ambulance staff and volunteers reached the location after receiving information about the incident.
Initial information suggested no signs of a robbery attempt or resistance inside the flat. However, investigators are examining the available evidence to establish what happened.
Note written by Shahzeb emerges
A note allegedly written by Shahzeb has also surfaced during the investigation. In the note, he reportedly cited unemployment and strained relations with relatives as reasons behind his decision to take the extreme step.
Shahzeb allegedly wrote that his relatives had boycotted him and his family. He also claimed that when they approached relatives for financial assistance, they were insulted and turned away, while their telephone numbers had been blocked.
The contents of the note are expected to form part of the investigation as police seek to establish the motive behind the deaths.
IGP Sindh seeks report
Taking notice of the incident, IGP Sindh Javed Alam Odho directed the DIG East to submit an immediate report.
He also ordered a transparent and impartial investigation, with authorities instructed to collect forensic evidence and complete all legal formalities without delay.
The bodies have been shifted to a hospital for medico-legal procedures and post-mortem examinations. The final cause of death will depend on the medical findings and forensic evidence.
Similar incident reported in Karachi
The incident comes after five members of another family, including a doctor, his wife and their three children, were found dead inside a flat in Karachi’s Ahsanabad area in September.
Police identified the husband as Dr Umar. The bodies were reportedly four to five days old and had decomposed when authorities recovered them after residents alerted police about a foul smell coming from the locked flat.
Investigators found the bodies in two rooms and reported no apparent signs of a struggle, theft or robbery. Police raised the possibility of poisoning or collective suicide, but the circumstances surrounding the deaths required further investigation.
