An 18-year-old newlywed girl was found dead in the Defence Housing Authority (DHA) area of Karachi, with her relatives detained for questioning in connection with her death, police officials confirmed on Tuesday.
According to South Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Syed Asad Raza, the girl, who was married to a government employee stationed at Malir Cantonment, was discovered lifeless on the rooftop of a building in Badar Commercial, Phase 5. The officer revealed that a dupatta was tightly knotted around her neck twice.
The girl was rushed to a private clinic in DHA, then to a hospital in Clifton, where she was pronounced dead. Her body was later transferred to Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre for legal procedures.
The couple, who had recently arrived from Sialkot two weeks ago, were living with the girl’s aunt in the Badar Commercial area.
DIG Raza shared that the girl had gone to the rooftop on Monday evening but did not return. Her aunt, after noticing her absence, went upstairs and found the girl unconscious near a water tank, with a dupatta around her neck. She immediately called her son, and they rushed the girl to the hospital.
The girl’s father, also a government employee, arrived at JPMC later that night and suggested that his daughter had been strangled in a possible murder.
“The aunt’s sons are currently under suspicion and have been detained for questioning,” stated the senior police officer.
The South police chief confirmed that they are awaiting the final report from the medical experts.
Dr. Summaiya Syed, the police surgeon, told Dawn, “There are strong suspicions of sexual violence,” adding that all necessary samples had been collected. She confirmed that the cause of death was due to neck constriction.
