ISLAMABAD: The autopsy on the body of Mohammad Taha, who disappeared on Margalla Hills on May 25 and was found dead two days later, has revealed that the teenager had died more than 24 hours before the postmortem.

According to the autopsy report, the body of the teenage boy was brought to Pims at 6:57pm on May 27 and the autopsy was conducted at around 10:15pm.

The report said the final opinion would be given after observations from a radiologist and reports from the Punjab Forensic Science Agency were received.

“All muscles, joints are healthy; however, X-rays trauma series done and radiology expert opinion is awaited,” said the report. The deceased’s scalp, skull, vertebra, membranes-brain and spinal cord were healthy and intact.

Teenager disappeared on Margalla Hills on May 25 and was found dead two days later

His ribs, cartilages, pleurae, larynx and tracheae, right and left lungs, pericardium, blood vessels, walls, peritoneum, mouth, pharynx and oesophagus, diaphragm, stomach and its contents, pancreas, small and large intestines and their contents, liver, spleen, kidneys and bladder were also found healthy and intact,“ the report said.

The samples of the deceased’s heart and lungs were sent for histopathology tests while samples of liver, stomach and contents were sent for toxicology tests.

Similarly, samples of fingernail scrapings also were sent for the detection of DNA as well as anal swabs for the detection of semen and DNA analysis to ascertain sexual assault. The body was in advanced decomposition and in a putrefied phase.

According to the FIR, Taha along with his classmates or friends left for Trail-5 on Margalla Hills from his house for hiking on May 25. At about 5:00pm, one of his friends called his mother and asked if he had returned home or not, saying all the others had reached their homes.

Later, his mother reached Trail-5 to search for him and also reported the matter to Rescue-15. In response, police reached there and conducted a search till late at night but failed to find him. She told the police that her son was abducted by someone and asked for action, the FIR added.

The police registered a case on May 26 under section 365 of PPC.

The wildlife staff spotted the body in a ravine on May 27 and later informed the police, who along with rescue workers reached the spot and retrieved the body. Later, the police also added a murder charge to the case in response to the complaint of the deceased’s mother.

Published in Dawn, June 8th, 2024