Karachi food poisoning case: Parents forgive suspects, decline to pursue further action
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The parents of two Karachi children ─ who had died last year after consuming food from an upscale restaurant ─ told the court on Monday that they had forgiven those responsible and didn't want to initiate further action against the suspects.
The minor brothers, Ahmad, 1.5-years-old, and Muhammad, 5-years-old, had died in November 2018 after the family dined out at Zamzama's Arizona Grill restaurant and afterwards consumed candy from a shop outside an amusement park on Seaview. The children had started vomiting after consuming food which caused dehydration, kidney failure and eventually death.
Police had initiated a probe into the matter and the restaurant was sealed for forensic investigation. Multiple samples of food collected from the restaurant, the victims' house as well as from the bodies were sent to the Punjab Forensic Science Agency as well as SGS Korangi for examination.
A Sindh High Court bench on Monday resumed hearing the bail application of the two suspects arrested in the case.
The parents of the deceased children appeared in court today and said they had forgiven those responsible and didn't wish to take any further action.
The lawyer for the restaurant also apprised the court of a compromise being reached between both parties.
A lab report that the court had earlier asked for was submitted in court today by the Sindh Food Authority. The report concluded that the children had died of poisoning. It explained that there was a high quantity of E.coli bacteria found in the expired meat recovered from the restaurant.
An SFA official told the court that the cause of death was the ingestion of a large quantity of E.coli, according to the lab report.
The court ordered copies of the settlement to be submitted to the trial court.
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Comments (60) Closed
Jan 14, 2019 11:57am
Civil society and rights activists rally behind such parents, who portray themselves as victims and after they complain of the misdeeds but after some time they bow out for some reasons.
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Jan 14, 2019 12:05pm
The crime has impacted the entire society! It has societal implications! The CJ of SC should take suo moto action to set a precedent that criminals will be punished and not forgiven!
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Jan 14, 2019 12:22pm
What a shame.
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Jan 14, 2019 12:24pm
There should be some punishment for the restaurant so that such incidents may be avoided in future. This is not a private issue rather we all are its stakeholders.
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Jan 14, 2019 12:26pm
But why?
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Jan 14, 2019 12:27pm
Who are they to forgive for the murder of their children. This law of forgiveness should be abolished as this is a ridicule to the justice.
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Jan 14, 2019 12:30pm
The aggrieved family has to understand that by forgiving the responsible they are giving free hand to all food sellers of the country to use expired products since they would easily reach an 'compromise' if someone is unable to digest their 'quality' food.
It is sad that they are not thinking about kids of others.
As the court/govt knows who is responsible for the incident they should reject this 'compromise' and act as a responsible govt.
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Jan 14, 2019 12:33pm
The State should take over the case because Public Health is at risk. Obviously, the perpetrators met the poor parents' price and bought their 'forgiveness'.
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Jan 14, 2019 12:36pm
The state should pursue the case even if the parents have forgiven them.............why state is so callous in these matters. Should we wait for another accident to happen
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Jan 14, 2019 12:37pm
State should become the complainant.
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Jan 14, 2019 12:38pm
The punishment for there crime should be handed out by the court, it doesn't matter what the parents desire.
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Jan 14, 2019 12:39pm
If this is not hell then what is!!!
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Jan 14, 2019 12:50pm
Settlement should never be allowed as it is certainly forced. In our country first of all administration acts after strong public reaction and when law takes its course settlement under duress comes into effect. If at all it is approved where is case of state against the accused. In western countries one can't get away from punishment no matter settlement is arrived between the parties.
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Jan 14, 2019 12:51pm
Parents can forgive the other party on a personnel basis but state of Pakistan should still persue the criminal case to make sure that this things never happen again.
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Jan 14, 2019 12:51pm
What a shame.... he did not get his lesson..... can kill
Someone else.
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Jan 14, 2019 12:52pm
The restaurant owners must be prosecuted for criminal act irrespective of any outside court deal.
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Jan 14, 2019 12:54pm
How can a private settlement stop the legal process.? The case has to be tried on merit since it involves death by selling contaminated food.
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Jan 14, 2019 12:54pm
Even the parents decided to forgive, but state should still pursue this case, health department should also pursue this case, no exceptions at all.
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Jan 14, 2019 12:54pm
Why forgive those who caused harm. This is totally unacceptable.
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Jan 14, 2019 12:55pm
Even if the parents have forgiven.... SHC or SC should take notice and punish the following:
1) Restaurant Owners for their willful wrong act
2) Concerned Sindh Govt. authorities responsible for ensuring food hygiene esp. SFA and Food Department
3) Customs Officials from where the expired meet got cleared as its not possible without their collusion
Would be next to impossible if the Sindh Sarkar wakes up to the right of people even now
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Jan 14, 2019 12:56pm
Maybe they did it under pressure. Anyways, action should be taken against the restaurant. They were using expired and rotten meat which produced E.coli bacteria.
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Jan 14, 2019 01:05pm
@Pakistani, possibly a pay off.
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Jan 14, 2019 01:09pm
disappointing!
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Jan 14, 2019 01:09pm
A system cannot continue with injustice.
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Jan 14, 2019 01:09pm
they are being pardon to kill more people?
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Jan 14, 2019 01:14pm
state should still punish owner of restaurant for causing harm to society,.. forgiveness shouldnt be option here!
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Jan 14, 2019 01:21pm
The fact remains that, there were a large number of people who consumed the same food from the upscale eatery but remained free from any food poisoning. Unless of course, if the unfortunate family was their only customer on that fateful day?
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Jan 14, 2019 01:21pm
Money talks and talks very loud in our country.
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Jan 14, 2019 01:33pm
The parents have forgiven but the state should not and pursue the case and be made an example to other restaurant owners.
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Jan 14, 2019 01:35pm
Mysterious
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Jan 14, 2019 01:42pm
Disgusting,money wins every time !
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Jan 14, 2019 01:43pm
State should pursue the case as it is of public importance
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Jan 14, 2019 02:12pm
Its not only their case anymore...Other people/children also dine in these places.
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Jan 14, 2019 02:22pm
But...why!!
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Jan 14, 2019 02:32pm
This is the only solution for quick closure of any case in pakistani courts. Otherwise it will take ages to conclude.
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Jan 14, 2019 02:49pm
The food authority which is an independent department must take a legal action to punish the people and introduce stricter controls and laws to prevent this from happening going forward.
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Jan 14, 2019 03:40pm
What a joke, how can any normal parent(s) forgive the restaurant owner for willful negligence that caused the death of their minor children, unless the parents were either coerced by powerful owner of dire consequences against them or they were greedy enough to take blood money. Shameful state of affairs.
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Jan 14, 2019 03:45pm
Since this was not intentional act of killing, the parents are right to forgive this, this can be termed as an accident, as the restaurant owner/managers did not have intention to kill nor were they aware of the consequences of using such expired meats, I think a good media trial has already been conducted, they have spent a good time in jail too, along with heavy losses to their reputation, further punishment would not bring their children back nor it would avenge them, hence a good decision for them to move on in life, and a good lesson taught to the restaurant management by state officials.
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Jan 14, 2019 03:53pm
It is probable that parents have been threatened of dire consequences if the case is pursued any further. No justice can happen on this earth. Power is everything down here. What a shame.
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Jan 14, 2019 04:01pm
'Parents forgive suspects, decline to pursue further action' !!!
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Jan 14, 2019 04:01pm
Good luck getting anyone to eat here again
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Jan 14, 2019 04:03pm
No such compromise will be accepted and government must intervene the cause, as it is a public case, anyone can be affected sooner or later, there must be strict action for the incident.
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Jan 14, 2019 04:04pm
Cannot imagine what the parents are going through. Losing two young children and having to forgive the killers. They must have been put under tremendous pressure to accept this. Very sad indeed. Can CJP take notice?
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Jan 14, 2019 04:20pm
Govt should pursue the case.
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Jan 14, 2019 04:22pm
Very wrong decision by parents, the culprits should be punished to avoid this kind of incidents in future .
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Jan 14, 2019 04:23pm
Forgiven - reflecting true spirit of Islam. Forgiveness is a hall mark of Islam. Very brave of parents.
But what about Sindh Govt's responsibility of not having an effective food inspection department after 70 years ??.
Who will charge those criminals in garb of politicians.
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Jan 14, 2019 04:36pm
Why ....
We could save hundreds of others by making an example out of it
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Jan 14, 2019 04:38pm
@Pakistani, it is the money which talks.....
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Jan 14, 2019 04:49pm
Parents can forgive but the Government needs to take rightful severe action on negligence. Just no respect to human life ..
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Jan 14, 2019 05:37pm
Why? So they could continue more of the same?
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Jan 14, 2019 08:56pm
This not matter of one family but of whole city. Anyone can be died due eating expired meat in the restaurant. Isn't illegal to sell expired food? What the settlement had been the two parties? Can money allow someone to play with the lives of people?
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Jan 14, 2019 09:53pm
Ok they have forgiven its their right what about action from state, it still has to carry out its duties. May Bilawal can mention what a great job his government in sind is doing.
Time to get rid of PPP/PMLN/MQM/JUIF/JI and all other dead beats
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Jan 14, 2019 10:09pm
it is a great law for rich and elite or royal families of Pakistan; go out kill someone and then buy the family out, without admitting to any crime.
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Jan 14, 2019 10:19pm
Is that it then? How can these people get away with serving food which can kill a diner? How much did they pay so that no further action is taken? What message does this send to the other people selling sub standard and potentially lethal food, yes, green light. Carry on, nothing will happen if someone else dies.
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Jan 14, 2019 10:28pm
It's a noble gesture on the part of the parents, if those responsible agree to take measures so that such incidents do not recur in future.
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Jan 14, 2019 10:39pm
The parents' may forgive but the law should not and bring to task those responsible at all cost!
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Jan 14, 2019 11:22pm
I am trying to understand the process here. If the Parents forgive, would the Investigation and due legal process come to a Stop ?
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Jan 15, 2019 12:39am
About time we abolished this ridiculous loophole of forgiving murderers and criminals. Unbelievably archaic thing to do in the 21st century. Negligence, murder, corruption, and pretty much everything other than financial or minor disputes between two parties should be treated as crimes against the state rather than individuals.
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Jan 15, 2019 12:45am
What kind of nonsense is this.
You can't forgive someone before it is proven in the court that the said person is in fact guilty.
I bet it was something related to the companies
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Jan 15, 2019 05:04am
Pakistan Criminal and justice system and Supreme Court must take this incident into account when rich, powerful and people with influence play with the law of forgiveness as it has impacted the victims in particular and society in general- this law has to be abolished in the best interest of serving justice as people started taking advantage of the situations. The State of Pakistan is responsible for the protection of every citizens in Pakistan and if someone died willfully or even without intention, the law of the land must take its course. We are not some primitive society that started solving even murder cases on our own. Abolish this law of forgiveness- too many lives was lost and too many criminals are out without being punished.
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