Post-mortem of Karachi boys allegedly killed by food poisoning complete

KARACHI: Two minor boys who passed away earlier in the day apparently died due to poisoning, a representative of the city's Jinnah Hospital said Sunday night, after the deceased's post-mortem was completed.

According to Dr Shiraz, the medico-legal officer (MLO) at Jinnah Hospital, a report subsequent to the deceased children's post-mortem had been reserved. Their deaths look like an incident of poisoning, he said, adding that samples from the bodies and blood specimens had been taken and sent to a laboratory for analysis.

The chemical analysis report from body samples and blood specimens would be released in approximately 5-10 days, Dr Shiraz mentioned, after which the final cause of death could be ascertained.

The dead bodies were handed over to the family, which has planned the funerals for in the afternoon, later today, at Mosque Al-Aisha on Khayaban-e-Ittehad.

Two children, identified as 18-month-old Ahmed and Muhammad, 5, allegedly lost their lives on Sunday afternoon due to food poisoning after consuming substandard food at a restaurant in the city's Zamzama area.

The minor boys' mother, Aisha, remains hospitalised.

According to Peer Muhammad Shah, the senior superintendent of police (SSP) for South District, the three — the woman and her two children — had consumed unhygienic food from the restaurant and, prior to that, they had also purchased candies from a stall at a children's playland in Defence Phase 4.

The woman told Geo News her children first purchased candies from the playland after which they had food at the Zamzama restaurant.

At 6 AM on Sunday morning, their health deteriorated. 

Investigation officers stated that the affected family was brought to the hospital by the boys' maternal uncle and the mother's brother-in-law at around 3 PM in critical condition, hospital administration had said, adding that the mother was still under treatment but out of danger.

The boys' father worked in Lahore as a construction contractor.

SSP Shah further said both the eatery and the playland had been sealed and an investigation into the incident was underway. Food samples were also to a laboratory for testing, he stated, adding that the team had also inspected the residence.

Samples of numerous food items that were found at the family's home were taken as well, Shah said, and the statements from all of the five people present in the house were recorded.

In order to carry out the probe into the matter, a committee has been formed, under the leadership of Shah, the police officer, and including SSP Tariq Dharejo as well as the assistant superintendent of police (ASP) for Clifton.

Consequently, the Sindh Food Authority also sprang into action and visited the restaurant to take samples.

'Investigating case from all angles'

Karachi police chief Amir Sheikh meanwhile said the case would be probed from all angles. Speaking to the media, he said police would investigate what happened inside the house and that it was "strange" that the children were taken to hospital after considerable delay.

He added that the children complained of nausea at 2 AM but were given milk and sent to bed. The milk samples were also sent for testing, he added.

Three people have been detained in connection with the incident and were being investigated, Sheikh said.