KARACHI: Police Surgeon Dr Summaiya Syed on Wednesday confirmed that two of the five family members found dead at a house in Karachi died from gunshot wounds to the head, while the causes of death of the remaining three victims are being withheld pending forensic reports.
Dr Summaiya said Shahzaib and his wife, Saba, had each sustained a gunshot wound to the head.
Shahzaib was approximately 35 years old, while Saba was between 28 and 30, according to the police surgeon. Samples for gunshot residue (GSR) testing, chemical analysis and DNA profiling were collected from both victims.
The causes of death of the other three family members — Shahzaib’s sister, Shumaila, and his daughters, Aizal and Arya — have been reserved until the relevant reports are received.
Shumaila was between 20 and 22 years old, while Aizal was approximately five and Arya three. Samples for chemical analysis, serology and DNA testing were also collected from all three, Dr Summaiya said.
The police surgeon said the available findings had not established whether the five deaths resulted from suicide or murder. The investigation is ongoing, and no case had been registered at the time of the statement.
The circumstances surrounding the deaths and their exact causes will be determined after the relevant investigative and forensic reports are received.
The victims were found dead at their home in a private housing society near Gulshan-e-Hadeed, in Karachi’s Bin Qasim area, during the night between Monday and Tuesday.
Police recovered a handwritten note from the scene referring to the family’s financial difficulties and strained relations with relatives. The note reportedly indicated that Shahzaib had not received support from relatives during a difficult period.
Meanwhile, Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) leader and Member of the National Assembly Dr Farooq Sattar expressed grief over the tragedy and called for a serious review of the country’s economic policies.
In a statement, Sattar described the incident as a moment for introspection, highlighting the hardships faced by ordinary citizens due to poverty, hunger and economic distress.
“Since we are ourselves part of the government, this is not merely a time to question others but also to recognise our own responsibilities and take practical steps,” he said.