Last Updated on October 13, 2026 by YeJahan
YEJAHAN REPORT
KARACHI (Oct 13): A family of five has been found dead inside a ground-floor flat in Karachi’s Gulshan-e-Falaknaz, Block J (Bin Qasim), in what authorities suspect is a tragic incident driven by extreme financial despair.
The deceased have been identified as Shahzaib, his wife Saba, his sister Shumaila, and his two young daughters, Aizel and Arya. While the final cause of death remains under investigation, police discovered a handgun at the scene alongside a distressing note detailing the family’s six-month struggle with unemployment.
Karachi, Pakistan’s sprawling economic hub of over 20 million people, has been hit hard by skyrocketing inflation, soaring utility costs, and a punishing cost-of-living crisis. These harsh economic realities are increasingly driving vulnerable families into severe hardship.
Discovery and investigation
The bodies were discovered after the landlord knocked on the door regarding property maintenance. Receiving no response, he alerted the police.
Responding officers found the family members deceased inside different rooms of the flat. A firearm was recovered from the scene, and a note was found in the pocket of Shahzaib’s shirt.
This is the second incident of its kind in Karachi, where a doctor, his wife, and their three young daughters were found dead inside a locked flat in the Ahsanabad area on September 21, 2026.
Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Malir, Dr Abdul Khaliq Pirzada, stated that initial assessments point toward a domestic tragedy involving poisoning and firearms, though formal forensic confirmation is required.
Financial hardship
The landlord revealed that the family had moved into the flat five months ago at a monthly rent of Rs 10,000. “I never pressured them for the rent,” he said, noting that Shahzaib was unemployed and lived in near-total isolation, with no visitors ever coming to the property.
The note recovered by police paints a bleak picture of their final months, detailing an inability to afford basic rations, rent, and utility bills. In a breakdown of their immediate financial misery, the letter noted they lacked the modest sums required for children’s essential expenses and to refill their gas cylinder.
The letter also expressed deep distress regarding a lack of social and financial support from extended family during their difficulties.
Official response
The bodies have been moved to the Edhi Mortuary in Sohrab Goth following preliminary medical examinations.
The Inspector General of Sindh Police, Javed Alam Odho, has taken formal notice of the incident, demanding a comprehensive report from the DIG East. He has ordered a transparent inquiry, instructing forensic teams to meticulously gather evidence to establish the exact sequence of events.
SSP Investigation Fehmida Abasi confirmed that while a tragedy triggered by severe poverty remains the primary line of inquiry, teams are still awaiting the formal autopsy results. Detectives are also running background checks to verify the ownership of the recovered firearm.
Copyright YeJahan News Network, 2026
