ISLAMABAD, May 5: Three Rwandan nationals were found dead under mysterious circumstances in an apartment at the Diplomatic Enclave on Sunday, police and hospital authorities said.

The three men, one of whom was identified as Ally Salim Hashim, had been staying in an apartment in Unique Plaza. The two persons had joined Salim Saturday night.

The superintendent of capital police (SP) Ahmed Sadiq, who is leading the investigation into the incident, said the three Rwandans had been seeking immigration through UNHCR. They were last seen by watchman Rustam Ali at about 1:30pm on Saturday, he said.

Preliminary medical and police reports suggest that the three men died due to poisoning. However, the bodies were shifted to the District Headquarters Hospital Rawalpindi for autopsy to ascertain the real cause of their deaths, the police said.

A police official said the incident came to light on Sunday at 10:30am when the watchman heard the sound of running tap. He repeatedly knocked at the door, but failed to get a response. He then informed the owner of the building who called the police, the official added.

When the police arrived at the scene, they broke open the door of the apartment and found the three men dead.

“Salim Hashim was on his bed, while his two guests were lying on the floor. The two unidentified men were bleeding from their noses and mouths, but no signs of violence were evident,” Dr Arshad at the Federal Government Services Hospital told Dawn.

According to the police, the air-conditioner was on when they entered the room. Besides, there were bottles and cans of soft drinks and liquor.

The bomb disposal experts were also called to conduct a search of their baggage, but no explosives were found, a police official said.

Hashim’s case for immigration through the UNHCR was under process and his stay in Pakistan was valid till March 3. Till the filing of this report the police were trying to trace the identities of the other two victims.

Some policemen present at a picket near the French embassy allegedly used abusive language against some journalists who tried to reach the scene of the incident.

“Come what may, we cannot allow you people because we have been directed by the high-ups,” a policeman said.

When a complaint was lodged with SP Sadiq, he said: “We are considering to further tighten entry into the Diplomatic Enclave.”

PRESS NOTE: Meanwhile, the district magistrate of Islamabad, in a press note, said: “Today on the 5th of May 2002 at about 10:30am in the morning within the jurisdiction of Police Station Secretariat in Unique Apartments (a private building near diplomatic area) three bodies of Rwandan/African refugees were recovered.