KARACHI, Dec 21: Three young sisters who were found dead in a pond in their house in Orangi Town in October had been poisoned by their father, police investigators said.

The police on Wednesday claimed to have arrested Sher Mohammad, a dairy farmer, for killing his daughters, two of whom were physically handicapped.

The bodies of 16-year-old Uzma, 11-year-old Sumera and eight-year-old Nisha were recovered from the pond set up for cattle in their house, located in Mairajun Nabi Colony of Orangi Town's Sector 10, on the morning of Oct 15.

Victims Uzma and Sumera were physically handicapped and Nisha was said to be suffering from some mental ailment.

Ten days back, the investigation of the case was transferred to the SSP Crime Range West by the Sindh police chief after the investigation stalled with the district police.

“The girls' father has confessed to killing his daughters,” said SSP Range Crime West Khurram Waris while speaking at a press conference.

Mr Waris quoted the suspect as telling investigators that he got fed up with looking after his daughters after his wife had gone to Punjab following a death in the family.

Prior to the killing, the two elder sisters were fighting in the house, the SSP said, adding that their father brought home some haleem laced with a sedative. When they fell unconscious after eating it he drowned them in the pond, he said.

The police said a neighbour had also confirmed to have heard the girls having an altercation before they were found dead in the pond the next morning.

During the reinvestigation of the case, the police again examined all witnesses in the case and interrogated the father during which he confessed to the crime.

The case (FIR No 371/2011) had been lodged at the Mominabad police station on a complaint of the victims' father against unidentified persons under Sections 302 (premeditated murder) and 34 (common intention) of the Pakistan Penal Code.