As police open probe LUMS devising safeguards

A student had died a day earlier because of alleged drug overdose

LAHORE: Police have started an investigation into the death of a student at the Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS), while the university says that it is devising safeguards for students.

SHO (Defence B) Ziaul Haq told The Express Tribune that the body of the deceased, 21-year-old Shahmir, had been handed over to the family, who had left for Karachi.



The SHO said initially the family asked not to carry out the postmortem of Shahmir, but later on the insistence of the police, they agreed to submit to an autopsy. He said the postmortem report was expected within a few days; however, the cause of his death would only be confirmed after the results of the chemical examination are released.

He said the swabs were sent to the Punjab Forensic Science Laboratory for chemical examination to ascertain the cause of his death. However, he did not confirm when the results would be received.

A spokesperson for the LUMS administration told The Express Tribune that the university was cooperating with the authorities. He said the police forensic team had gathered necessary evidence from the room of the students.



In the meanwhile, he said, a meeting had been held between all stakeholders. “It has been decided that sniffer dogs will be deployed at the entrance of LUMS for security, as well as to ensure that drugs don’t enter the premises of the university.

“Additionally, we are making it mandatory for students to see the doctor when asked by the administration.”

Furthermore, he said, the university was in the process of an overall security overhaul. The family has taken the body of Shahmir to Karachi and his last rites will be held today (Thursday).

Published in The Express Tribune, December 15^th, 2016.