CJP takes notice of Karachi siblings' death due to food poisoning

ISLAMABAD: Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Saqib Nisar Monday took suo motu notice of two minor siblings' death in Karachi due to alleged food poisoning earlier this month.

Two siblings, 18-month-old Ahmed and Muhammad, 5, died from a suspected case of food poisoning on November 11, after dining out with their mother at a local eatery the previous night. The incident triggered a police investigation into the case, and resulted in the sealing of the restaurant in question.

Taking suo motu notice of the matter, the chief justice sought a report from the Sindh government in two days.

During a raid on a tip-off last week, the Sindh Food Authority also recovered expired meat from the godown of the eatery in question, located in the upscale Zamzama neighbourhood of Karachi.

The authority found meat that had expired in as far back as 2015, and was said to have a rotting stench to it. Sindh Food Authority Director Abrar Sheikh told the media that the eatery's management had earlier failed to disclose the existence of the godown where the expired meat was found.

Expired meat recovered from Karachi eatery under probe over minors' death

The expired, 'stinking' meat was recovered from the restaurant's godown located next to it

A first information report had also been filed two days after the siblings' death. The case included clauses of murder without an apparent motive and poisoning, he added.

The deceased children's father, Ahsan, said he was doubtful that the cotton candy his late kids had eaten on the fateful night could be the reason for their death. "They had [it] at home too," he stated.

Their maternal grandfather, on the other hand, said the minor boys had eaten from four different places and that it was now up to the police to take proper action and determine which food item caused the deaths.

The mother of the deceased minors and their driver had also recorded their statements with the authorities, according to investigation sources.

Investigating officials earlier said the probe so far suggested that there was no difference between the statements of the deceased minor's mother and the driver.

Samples of more than 30 items from the residence of the bereaved family were collected and sent to a private laboratory and Punjab Forensic Science Agency for chemical analysis.

The Karachi police will prepare its report after the submission of reports by the PFSA and the local lab.

A closed-circuit television footage from the playland, from where the family bought sweets, and the restaurant, where the deceased last dined, was also being analysed.