'Dream' pushes man to self-immolation

Sexagenarian had told relatives about watching himself burn in a dream for three days

KARACHI:

Allah Rakha, 60, had told his sister-in-law that for the past three days he had repeatedly dreamt of seeing himself engulfed in flames. On Sunday night, he poured kerosene oil on himself and lit a match.

The self-immolation victim, a resident of Rawalpindi, had arrived in Karachi 10 days earlier and was staying at the home of his wife's sister in Orangi Town.

SHO Yusuf Mahar said initial investigations suggest the case is one of self?immolation. "The victim poured kerosene and set himself on fire," he said.

Two rescued

A fire broke out in a shop located beneath a residential building in Soldier Bazaar on Sunday, leaving an elderly woman and a young man in critical condition.

Rescue officials identified the victims as 80?year?old Jamila, wife of Abdul Ghaffar, and 22?year?old Hadi, son of Ali Abbas. Both were shifted by Chhipa volunteers to the burns ward of Civil Hospital Karachi, where they remain under treatment.

Firefighters managed to extinguish the flames after half an hour of effort.