Four decomposed bodies, including those of two women and a child, were recovered from a manhole in Karachi on Friday, prompting the Sindh chief minister to order an immediate investigation.
Deputy Inspector General (DIG) South Asad Raza said the bodies were found near Mai Kolachi Phatak, an isolated area close to Mauripur. He said the deceased included one man, two women and a child, and appeared to have been dead for 10 to 15 days.
Edhi Foundation volunteers, accompanied by police, retrieved the bodies from the manhole after a garbage collector alerted authorities to their presence.
According to police and rescue officials, concrete blocks had been placed inside the sewer to conceal the bodies. No identification documents were found at the scene.
The remains were shifted to a hospital for post-mortem examinations, which investigators say will help determine the cause of death and aid identification.
Police officials said the women appeared to be between 24 and 45 years old, the man around 25 to 30, and the child approximately 14 to 16.
Due to prolonged exposure to sewage water, the bodies could not be immediately identified, officials added.
Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Zain Baloch said the site is considered a “jungle area” with no nearby residential settlements and has witnessed similar incidents in the past.
“The bodies were lying beneath stones inside the manhole,” he said, adding that investigations were underway and it would be premature to comment on motives or suspects.
Rescue officials told local media that initial evidence suggested the victims may have been brought to the site before being killed, adding that signs of violence were present at the scene.
The incident comes amid a broader surge in violent deaths in the city.
Police said at least seven bodies have been recovered from different parts of Karachi, including New Karachi, Dhoraji, Safora and the Mai Kolachi area, during the first two days of 2026.
Separately, Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah took notice of the incident and directed police and relevant authorities to carry out a thorough investigation.
In a statement, the chief minister expressed deep sorrow over the recovery of the bodies from a drain in the Mauripur area and ordered officials to examine all aspects of the case and identify those responsible.
He also directed that a detailed report be submitted immediately to establish the facts, assuring that the Sindh government would ensure justice for the affected families and that no negligence would be tolerated.
“The protection of citizens’ lives and property is the government’s top priority,” the chief minister said, adding that all possible measures would be taken.
