'Mass suicide': forensic reports awaited

Two of the five members of a family found dead inside a house in Falak Naz Society died of gunshot wounds to the head, while the causes of death of the other three remain undetermined, according to the police surgeon.

The post-mortem examinations were completed on Tuesday night, after which all five bodies were shifted to the Edhi morgue in Sohrab Goth. Police Surgeon Dr Summaiya Syed said Shahzaib, aged around 35, and Saba, aged between 28 and 30, each sustained a single gunshot wound to the head inside their flat. Samples were collected from both victims for gunshot residue analysis, chemical examination and DNA testing.

The causes of death of Shumaila, aged between 20 and 22, and the two children, Aizel, 5, and Arya, 3, could not be established during the post-mortem examinations. Their causes of death have been reserved pending the results of chemical analysis, serology and DNA tests. The forensic reports are expected to help investigators establish the circumstances surrounding the deaths.

It has yet to be determined whether the five deaths were the result of murder or mass suicide.