Youth commits suicide in Khurrianwala

Victims was suffering from epileptic seizures, suicide incidents rampant across province

KURIANWALA:

A youth committed suicide by hanging himself using a rope in Khurrianwala on Tuesday. Police said the man identified as 30-year-old Muhammad Nawaz, a resident of Sammundari Road, Nai Abadi, Chak No 257RB, Mazhabiwala Khan, Kakot, committed suicide by hanging himself using a rope around his neck.

Police handed over the body to his heirs after completing necessary formalities. According to the police report, Nawaz had suffered from epileptic seizures.

On the day of the incident, he was at home with his wife and children when he had an epileptic seizure. Reportedly, he was deranged due to this illness after which he committed suicide by putting a rope on the skylight of a roof. Upon receiving the information, the police reached the spot, took the body of the deceased into their custody and handed it over to his heirs after taking necessary formalities.

Suicide incidents were rampant across the province.

On February 7, a 55-year-old man reportedly committed suicide in Gulshan-e-Ravi area of Lahore. The victim reportedly had placed his own coffin and other material in his vehicle before poisoning himself to death.

On February 5, at least three persons including two children reportedly committed suicide in the provincial capital.

On January 30, a 20-year-old woman reportedly committed suicide in Liaquatabad. She was frustrated due to disputes at home.

A day earlier, a 32-year-old man reportedly committed suicide in Sundar. The victim was frustrated due to domestic disputes and his financial conditions.

On January 23, a 25-year-old man reportedly committed suicide after self-immolation in Sundar area.

On January 22, a renowned psychiatrist in Multan Dr. Azhar Hussain committed suicide after shooting his only daughter, Dr. Alizah.

The victim herself was a psychiatrist and had been practicing at her father’s clinic for many years.

Hardly a week had passed when Dr. Azhar’s younger brother, Dr Mohib Saleem, reportedly committed suicide by burning himself to death.

The deaths of the doctors, particularly psychiatrists, had shocked the people of the city.

On January 13, an elderly man killed his two differently-abled daughters and committed suicide in the provincial capital.

Ziaullah Butt, 70 slaughtered his two daughters in Tokay Wala Chowk area of Rajgarh, Sanda. After the act, he committed suicide.

The deceased women were identified as Sadia, 34, and Aqsa, 30. After murdering them, their father also cut his body multiple times with the same knife that he had used to slaughter his daughters. He was shifted to a nearby hospital for treatment but could not survive. The man reportedly was poor and was frustrated because his daughters were differently-abled persons and he was getting old.

Since suicide is often considered as taboo in society, the cases mostly were put under the rug by the families to avoid dealing with the stigma as well as the legal implications.

Mental illnesses had reportedly multiplied during the pandemic, as suggested by many studies.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 24^th, 2021.