Karachi: Five members of a family were found dead inside a locked apartment in Karachi's Bin Qasim Town on Tuesday, October 13, prompting a police investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident.
Police said the family lived in rented accommodation near Gulshan e Hadeed. Authorities reportedly found the apartment locked from the inside when they arrived.
After receiving information about the family, police entered the residence and recovered the bodies. Rescue personnel then took them to Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre for medical and legal examinations.
Investigators also recovered a handwritten note. According to media reports citing police, the note mentioned unemployment, financial hardship, and difficulty getting support from relatives.
Police said the deceased previously sold a family property and moved into rented accommodation. Reports suggest he struggled financially and fell behind on rent.
Authorities are examining the note and other evidence to determine what happened. Although investigators raised the possibility of suicide, they did not conclude it, and other potential criminal circumstances remain under investigation.
Sindh Home Minister Ziaul Hassan Lanjar took note of the incident and sought a report from the Malir senior superintendent of police.
Sindh Inspector General of Police Javed Alam Odho also directed officers to conduct a transparent and impartial investigation, collect forensic evidence, and determine the actual causes of the deaths.
The incident renewed discussion about the challenges facing financially vulnerable households, including unemployment, access to emergency assistance and the availability of social protection.
Questions were also raised about whether existing welfare programmes can provide timely support to families experiencing sudden financial crises. However, no direct connection between shortcomings in welfare provision and the deaths was established.
Police said the investigation is ongoing and that forensic findings are expected to help clarify the circumstances of the case.
