Karachi family deaths: Police find doctor had resigned after cancer diagnosis

KARACHI: The initial police investigation into the deaths of five members of a family in Karachi has revealed that Dr Umar was diagnosed with kidney cancer on the 13th of last month, a development that reportedly left him deeply distressed.

According to police, Dr Umar subsequently resigned from the hospital where he worked.

Police said the family’s flat was locked from the inside. Investigators conducted a thorough search of the residence but could not find Dr Umar’s mobile phone.

Officials said police broke open all the doors of the flat to gain entry, while a key was later found near Dr Umar’s pillow.

The preliminary investigation also revealed that Dr Umar’s wife had attempted to sell the family’s oven for Rs10,000 last week.

A neighbour did not purchase the oven but provided the family with Rs2,000 in financial assistance, according to police.

Police said Dr Umar originally belonged to Bahawalnagar.

SSP East Zubair Nazir Sheikh said the bodies were recovered from a room on the seventh floor of the building. He said the flat’s doors were locked from the inside when police reached the scene.

The deceased man was a doctor and the sole breadwinner of the family, the SSP said.