Karachi police widen scope of investigation into Dr Maha Shah’s ‘suicide’

Karachi police looking into the death of young lady doctor Dr Maha Shah have widened the scope of their investigation and a police team has set off for Mirphurkhas, the hometown of the deceased, to quiz other members of her family, reported 24NewsHD TV channel on Friday.

Only Dr Maha’s father had so far spoken to the police insisting that her daughter had committed suicide. But his statement is not matching the circumstantial evidence the police had collected from the scene of the suicide, which is the washroom of the family’s home in Defence area of Karachi.

The fact that Dr Maha Shah received a bullet at the backside of her head had put a question-mark on all the suicide theories.

The statement of a close friend of Dr Maha Shah that they were about to marry has further complicated the situation.

Recording his statement before the police, Junaid said he and Maha were going to tie the knot soon. He said that Maha was at bad terms with her parents and she was having arguments with them frequently. He said he would pick and drop Maha to the hospital every day. He said that Maha had told him not to visit her house the day when she committed suicide. He said that Maha had been suffering from mental stress due to her domestic problems. 

As the investigation into Maha’s death continued, the pistol that police found at the crime scene has been sent for a forensic audit. Letters have been written to the Police Special Branch and the deputy commissioner (south) to verify who owns the pistol. According to the police, a murder case would be registered once they find evidence of murder. 

Latest reports suggest that there was no official record of the pistol used in the ‘suicide’

On Wednesday, Dr Maha Shah was found shot in the washroom of her home in the Defence area of Karachi. The 25-year-old doctor was found critically injured at her Karachi residence and later shifted to Jinnah Post-graduate Medical Centre where she succumbed to her injury. She was the daughter of the caretaker of the Garhori Sharif shrine, Syed Asif Ali Shah. 

An FIR regarding the ‘suicide’ of Dr Maha still could not be registered. However, the police said they are looking into the incident under Section 174.

The police opined that they will register a case if they came across any evidence that the death was the result of a murder.

Dr Maha was not only a doctor but also a public figure – a renowned Instagram influencer with a huge following.

Shah also had a large following on social media, namely Instagram. Moreover, the influencer had shared her last post on Instagram on the day of her death.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CEB7h_ZDc1v/?utm_source=ig_embed

Netizens reacted to Dr Maha Shah’s death, and some asked for further investigation into the case.

Tweep @SaherShahRizvi1 wrote: “#DrMahaShah d/o (daughter of) Syed Asif Ali Shah a resident of Dargah Garhod Sharif has been killed in Karachi. Dr Maha Shah was working in South City hospital. I strongly feel it’s a murder because she is being shot from behind in head. An investigation is required!”

While some sympathised with those suffering from depression.

Twitter user @cyron__001 wrote: “A beauty with brain, 23-year-old Dr Maha attempt[ed] suicide after returning from her duty. She was a fashion blogger too. Depression is not a joke guys.”