Murder charges included in FIR of girl's death at Seaview.

KARACHI -- Police on Thursday said they were treating the mysterious death of a girl, Sara Malik, as murder and not drowning at Seaview as was being claimed, arguing that there were visible injury marks on her face believed to be caused before her death.

In their initial postmortem examination report, doctors had established that drowning was not the cause of her death, according to South-SSP (investigation) Zahida Perveen.

Speaking to a select group of media personnel in her office, the SSP recalled that the Madadgar-15 police helpline had received a call from a citizen, Mr Jamal, who reported that the girl had jumped into the sea, purportedly to commit suicide, on Friday afternoon.

The body was recovered on Sunday morning and her family members recognised her. The postmortem examination was performed at the Jinnah PostgraAduate Medical Complex on Sunday and the report revealed that the body was not two days old, the police officer pointed out. The initial autopsy report also showed that it was not a drowning case, she added.

SSP Perveen said the area police had recovered the girl's handbag and other belongings, besides a card of a veterinary hospital from the spot. The hospital administration confirmed to the police that she had been working there.

'There were visible marks of injuries on her eyes, apparently caused before she died, and also on her nose,' she said. However, the officer hastened to add, the actual cause of death could be determined after final reports of medical examinations were received.

Police Surgeon Dr Sumaiyya Syed said: 'At the time of postmortem, the body was 'fresh' and had minor injuries on the face. There was sea mud in her mouth'.

'Her clothes were wet from the front side and dry from the back side,' she added.

The doctor observed that the girl was found lying face down in the waves on the beach, and confirmed that she was not pregnant.

The south investigation wing head said that murder charges had now been included in the otherwise suicide FIR.

Two suspects arrested

SSP Zahida Perveen said that before the incident, the caller, Mr Jamal, had also...