RAWALPINDI: Five siblings injested pesticides after their father scolded them over using a mobile phone on Thursday in Bagh Sardaran.

The three sisters, one of whom is two and a half years old, and two brothers were taken to the Benazir Bhutto Hospital (BBH) and have been hospitalised.

Sub-inspector Mohammad Aslam said the circumstances under which the children tried to kill themselves will only be established after they are conscious and after the chemical examiner’s report is received.

“If it is determined that the children tried to kill themselves, they will be booked for attempted suicide and if someone else was involved, a case will also be registered against them,” the investigating officer said.

He added that till the victims regain consciousness and record their statements, their family cannot be investigated. The children’s mother died in 2014 and were living with their father and his mother.

Mr Iqbal was on duty when he received a call from his mother at 2 pm that all the children were unconscious. He had then come home and taken them to the hospital.

According to the BBH medical superintended, the victims are in a stable condition now.

Published in Dawn, September 9th, 2016