KARACHI: Deputy Inspector General (DIG) South Javed Alam Odho on Wednesday revealed that the deaths of two minor brothers in Karachi last month — after they had consumed food of an upscale restaurant — had occurred due to food poisoning.
Odho, in a press conference in Karachi, said that due to the consumption of unhealthy food, the children had started vomiting that caused dehydration and led to kidney failure.
He said that during the investigation, Arizona Grill — where the brothers had their last meal — had not been able to give satisfactory answers to police queries about their supply chain and storage. Furthermore, he said, the quantity of yeast and mould that was found in the eatery exceeded the amount that is allowed by health standards.
The DIG claimed that dangerous bacteria like listeria, coliform, escherichia coli and salmonella had also been found in the eatery.
Earlier today, police arrested two Arizona Grill employees in connection with a case pertaining to the deaths of two siblings in Karachi by suspected food poisoning, a press release stated.
The arrested employees have been shifted to Sahil police station, while a case has been registered under Section 322 (punishment for qatl-bis-sabab: Whoever commits qatl bis-sabab shall be liable to diyat) and 272 (adulteration of food or drink intended for sale) of the Pakistan Penal Code.
Two siblings, 18-month-old Ahmed and Muhammad, 5, died from a suspected case of food poisoning on November 11, after dining out with their mother at a local eatery the previous night. The incident triggered a police investigation into the case and resulted in the sealing of the restaurant in question.
Medical reports revealed earlier this month had identified the consumption of sub-standard and unhygienic food as the cause for death. It was reported that a final result could not be obtained until a microbiology report which has yet to be made public. It was also reported that a panel of doctors will sit to discuss the findings.