GUJRANWALA, Feb 1: The Kotwali police have started investigation into mysterious death of a British nationality holder girl, Sobia Wali, and recorded the statements of around a dozen people, including doctors of a private hospital, on the request of British High Commission, Dawn learnt here on Friday.

Sobia, 22, had allegedly contracted court marriage with Usman Ghulzar in London some four months ago without the consent of her parents.

Her maternal grandmother, Hurmat Bibi, who was residing in the Katcha Darwaza area of Gujranwala, died on Jan 15 and Sobia along with her sisters Safia and Fauzia and uncle Iqbal arrived here from the UK the next day for offering condolences.

Sobia was stated to be pregnant and she allegedly fainted and fell down in the washroom. She was taken to a private hospital where gynaecologist Najma Zia advised her family to take her to a public hospital.

She was later taken to another private hospital, Chattha Hospital, and later to Surgimed Hospital in Lahore where she died during an operation on Jan 25. She was buried in a local graveyard in the presence of hundreds of mourners.

Sobia’s spouse Usman Ghulzar later informed the British High Commission in Islamabad and requested them to get the mysterious death of his wife investigated by the police.

When contacted, Kotwali SHO Ramzan Kamboh confirmed that investigation was being conducted on British High Commission’s request and none of the deceased’s family members or her spouse had contacted them for registration of a case.

Sources, however, told Dawn that Sobia died during an operation to terminate her ‘unwanted’ pregnancy.