BANNU: The district administration and health department have launched a joint investigation into the “mysterious” deaths of five children of a family in Takhtikhel area of Bakakhel tehsil here.

The children had died at their house three weeks ago, while three others reported serious health issues.

On the directives of Bannu deputy commissioner Mohammad Faheem, district health officer Dr Zafar Iqbal Wazir has constituted a special medical board, comprising senior physicians, to examine all aspects of the case and submit a comprehensive report.

The board members, including Dr Mohammad Arif, Dr Ataullah, Dr Mohammad Yaseen and Dr Mohammad Mehryar Khan, will conduct a detailed assessment of the affected family’s health conditions, living environment and other factors that possibly contributed to the deaths.

Meanwhile, a joint team from the health department and Halal Food Authority, led by elder Malik Mamoon Khan Wazir and Civil Defence chief warden Masoom Wazir, visited the area on Thursday.

The team met family members and collected samples of food, water and other consumable items from the house. Blood samples from the affected children and nearby family members were also collected and sent for laboratory analysis.

According to some doctors associated with the case, the symptoms observed in the affected children resemble those of organophosphate poisoning. These toxic compounds are commonly found in agricultural pesticides and can affect the nervous system, causing seizures, breathing difficulties, and cardiac complications.

Medical experts said that after the first death, the family had been advised to undergo specialized blood and urine tests to determine the cause of the illness. However, the recommendation was not acted upon immediately. Following subsequent deaths, post-mortem examinations and laboratory testing have again been recommended.

The doctors advised affected family members not to consume any food items currently present in their homes until laboratory results are available. They were also instructed to change their clothes every three to four hours and temporarily relocate to relatives’ homes.

KILLED: Regional Transport Authority employee Sajjad Khan was killed by armed men here on Thursday.

The Miryan police said the firing incident occurred near Lora Bridge when Sajjad was on his way to his office from his home.

They said they had collected evidence from the crime scene, while the body was shifted to the district headquarters hospital for postmortem. The police said an investigation was under way to trace and arrest culprits.

Published in Dawn, June 19th, 2026