Clerk attempts self-immolation
A tehsil council clerk attempted self-immolation on pay discontinuation for the past three months over a minor administrative mistake. The victim, Zahid Akhtar, who is a basic pay scale (BPS) 4 employee in Gujjar Khan Tehsil Council, set himself on fire however it was put out by his colleagues as they grabbed the victim. The victim still sustained burnt injuries and blisters developed all over his body. Officials told The Express Tribune learnt that Akhtar was deployed in Rawalpindi District Council. However, after the introduction of the new local bodies system in Punjab and the dissolution of district councils, he was transferred to Gujjar Khan Tehsil Council. Tehsil Council Chief Officer had stopped his salary for the past three months after a minor administrative mistake. The victim pleaded with the official to restore his salary and offered an unconditional apology but, the empathic official refused to do so which led to a self-immolation attempt. Sources said that the competent authority had taken notice of the incident and the efforts for restoration of the victim’s salary have begun too.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 8th, 2020.