Death by biryani: poisonous or poisoned?

Mystery surrounds the death of two brothers and a woman who died on Sunday after eating biryani cooked as niyaz at a function organised on the 12th of Rabiul Awal. Three people, including a woman, had died in a house while eight others in the neighbourhood fell unconscious reportedly after consuming poisonous food stuff the last day. Despite the passage of around 36 hours, police say that nothing can be ascertained until they receive the chemical report of the samples sent for laboratory tests. Sources in the medico-legal department at Abbasi Shaheed Hospital (ASH) told Pakistan Today that samples of blood and food in the stomach of the deceased were sent for chemical examination to the Services Hospital and the chemical examiner is yet to send the report.
“Eight more people [who fell sick after eating the food] were shifted to the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC), where officials stated their condition to be stable,” they added. Talking with Pakistan Today, Gadap Superintendent of Police Malik Altaf said the reason behind the death of the three people cannot be ascertained as yet due to the unavailability of the chemical investigation report. “The people who regained consciousness after treatment at ASH said that they ate biryani,” he said. “The police are waiting for the chemical report to initiate action against the people responsible, as the apparent reason behind the deaths was consumption of poisonous food.”
Sohrab Goth SHO Abdul Ghaffar Jamani said that a woman among three people was killed and eight others fell unconscious when they consumed poisonous food in the Mohammadi Goth, Scheme 33, Sohrab Goth. The deceased were identified as Farooq, 20, his brother Khaliq, sons of Nehram and Lubna, 25, wife of Ali Rehmat, who also fell unconscious after eating the biryani cooked by the deceased woman. Reportedly, the brothers had arrived at the home of Rehmat to eat the niyaz for 12th of Rabiul Awal.
The SHO said that the poisonous food was prepared on the eve of 12th Rabiul Awal and was later consumed in the house and also distributed among the neighbours. He said that the police were also looking for the shopkeeper from where the food material was purchased. “No arrests have been made as yet,” he added. On Monday, Malir Senior Superintendent of Police Rao Anwar Ahmed suspended Ahsanabad Police Post In-charge Sub-Inspector Rana Liaquat on negligence. A case (130/12) under sections 302 and 337-J of the Pakistan Panel Code was lodged against unidentified suspects on the complaint of Shabbir Hussain, the brother-in-law of the two deceased brothers.
FIVE KILLED: At least five people were killed across the city on Sunday and Monday, police said. A 17-year-old youth, identified as Ejaz, was killed by a stray-bullet when he was standing on the rooftop of his house in Haji Murid Goth. An 18-year-old youth, Abdul Majeed, was gunned down over personal enmity near Garam Chashma in Manghopir. A 30-year-old man, Anayat-ur Rehman, was shot dead near the Football Ground in Baldia No 8. A 70-year-old man, Fazal, was killed over old enmity in limits of Jamshed Quarters police station. A 45-year-old man, Ghulam Hussain, was murdered at the Ali Town truck stand in Sachal Goth. The three-day old body of a youth was found near the Jungle School in Baldia.