KARACHI: A woman allegedly poisoned her two daughters before taking her own life in their home near Ghaghar Phatak on the outskirts of the metropolis on Tuesday, police and rescuers said.

An Edhi Foundation spokesperson said that they brought a woman and her two minor daughters to the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre from Qadir Nagar within the remit of the Steel Town police station.

He said it appeared that the trio consumed some poisonous substance.

Area SHO Salim Rind said that doctors at the hospital declared two-year-old Sana Aslam dead on arrival. Later, her mother, identified as Noor Jehan, 30, also died during treatment. He said that Hina, 6, was under treatment at the hospital.

He said that Noor Jehan, a widow, was living in a small rented house in Qadir Nagar with her two physically challenged brothers, who drive rickshaws in the city.

The SHO said that the police seized some teacups found in the house for investigation.

He said that neighbours informed the police that they heard children’s screams and rushed to the house, where they found the woman and her two daughters lying unconscious.

The official said that the victims were not in a position to speak when they were being shifted to the hospital.

He believed that the widow poisoned her daughters and committed suicide.

The police were further investigating the case to ascertain what exactly happened in the house, he added.

Published in Dawn, November 1st, 2023