FIR registered against The City School management for manslaughter after employee dies by suicide

Usman Ali, a 25-year-old employee has died by suicide after allegedly falling from the eighth floor of The City School Regional Head Office, Karachi building on September 2. The case has since been registered at the Brigade Police Station, Karachi under charges of manslaughter.

The complainant, who is Usman Ali’s brother, stated that Ali left home for work at around 8:15 a.m. Less than an hour later, he received a call saying Ali’s health had deteriorated and he was being taken to Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC). By the time he arrived, Ali had passed away.

“It later transpired that my brother had left a message on his Facebook, naming three men from the institute who ‘mentally tortured’ him,” said the complainant. Police have invoked Sections 34 [criminal act by several persons with common intention] and 322 [punishment for manslaughter without intention] of the Pakistan Penal Code against the school.

Former staff members of The City School describe a culture of pressure and fear. “The environment is extremely toxic,” said one ex-employee. “HR systems only exist on paper. Workloads are crushing, mistakes are punished harshly, and many employees leave without ever receiving their final dues.”

Another long-time employee said the atmosphere deteriorated sharply during a specific tenure of leadership. “It became a place where staff were constantly threatened with termination if they didn’t follow instructions exactly,” he said.

The Express Tribune reached out to the The City School Regional Head Office but their representatives were not available to comment at the filing of this report.

The victim’s family has requested privacy and declined to offer further comment.

This is a developing story. If you have any leads, please email at tribunestorylead@gmail.com.

If you or someone you know is struggling with thoughts of suicide, please reach out to a trusted friend, family member, or a professional for support. In Pakistan, you can contact Umang Pakistan’s helpline at 92-311-7786264. Internationally, you can find hotlines at https://findahelpline.com.