Khan’s widow gave birth to a baby boy in the Kandiaro district of Naushehro Feroz on Wednesday, Express 24/7 reported.
Khan, a resident of Naushehro Feroz in Sindh, poured kerosene over his body before self-immolating. Reportedly in his twenties, the young father left behind a letter saying that he was exhausted by poverty.
After he set himself on fire, police outside the Parliament House tried to rescue him and took him to the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences. However, he succumbed to his wounds six hours later.
The news of Khan’s death came as a shock to his wife who was shifted to the hospital in poor health. With the newborn boy, Khan’s widow is left all by herself to take care of three children.
“I am responsible for my death. I am taking this step because I am fed up with my financial condition,” a police officer quoted Khan as having written in the letter. “If I die I should be buried in Islamabad. I have two children. The government should take care of them,” he continued.
HRCP expresses shock
In a statement issued here on Wednesday, the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) expressed shock over the growing number of suicides and deaths caused by ‘poverty and helplessness’ and, more importantly, the government’s ‘lack of interest’ in the issue.
The HRCP said it was ‘disconcerting’ to see the government’s apathy in response to death of people by poverty and desperation in addition to several being killed daily in terrorist attacks and other criminal offences.
Questioning the absence and indifference of the relevant authorities, HRCP demanded that people should not be ‘humiliated’ for rights they are entitled to. The statement said: “Why must the people be humiliated to get what they are entitled to? Why must someone die before the authorities are woken from their slumber?”
The statement warned the government about growing frustration in society which might encourage ‘vociferous protests’ by the people in order to attract the government’s attention.
According to the HRCP almost 1, 600 people have committed suicide this year out of sheer desperation and hopelessness besides the 800 suicide attempts.
The HRCP urged the government to urgently address people’s concern while preserving their dignity. (ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY AROOSA SHAUKAT IN LAHORE)
Published in The Express Tribune, October 27th, 2011.
COMMENTS (12)
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I think this thes is responsability of Government,feudalism,political parties and also the Public of pakistan....if this system will be continue then the people of Pakistan will do this again and again so we all Will have to think about this hopelessness.
Well, you might be waiting for quite some time for the right candidate....but democracies are like that which take a lot of work, though sadly some citizens want to simply quit and be ruled by a dictator.
There'll be a need to develop a positive society and environment, with active participation that's capable of producing ethical competent leaders with character and intelligence who can somehow survive a rigged system of religious, ethnic, feudal or military hegemony over weak corrupt civilian institutions. Not easy.
Unlike Tunisia, Syria, Libya, etc. is that we can fix all of our problems through the ballot box. It's just matter of if we vote for the right candidate or not...
@Salma Agha:
You may be trying to be sarcastic, but it's really not funny.
If you weren't being sarcastic....check yourself at the nearest clinic.
@Salma Agha: OH MY GOD!!!
this is just not the way to deal with problems..this is so sad:(
Shame on Pakistan.........Shame on Pakistan....................if a dog at the river Firak......then I will be questioned.....I will be responsible for. And today.........................shame on.
This is a plot by the RAW-CIA-MOSSAD axis to drag Pakistan's name in the dust. The man who committed suicide was paid handsomely before the incident.
There is a profound message for the pakistani nation and specially youth " Love is a luxury which only richies should avail and Marraige is an incubment only strong camels should carry out"
Alas!! I am unable to keep my tears flowing from my eyes. this is a real tragedy but unfortunetly nobody gives a damn to such incidents. now where are the media persons and political leaders who said that the independent judiciary will liberate us from the woes of life. Hello Imran khan , Hamid Mir ,Dr Shahid Masood and others like you,isn't it worst then any drone attack which turns you on. i have a doubt in my mind that you will still held foreign elements accountable for this.Ohh God who's next, it might be my own self!!
@zehra: Dear Zehra Revolution occurs in alive human societies not among the living deads like us.
really sad, what shook tunisia didnt even manage to stir us up:( , the whole media government were busy in the great burial that was happening on the same day, how would a mere civillian giving up his life equate to the great burial!! it is a disgusting slump that we are slipping into , there seems to be no end to the level we as a nation continue to stoop down. my head hangs in shame as his wife welcomes the orphan in a world that is largely ignorant of the tragedy of his fathers death.
As much as i hate sucide and in no way support it yet the way we have accepted it shocks me, we have become so heartless that as long as we are not getting affected we are ok, i guess it is simply as we are in the survial mode but still we need to soften up i guess, this is why i feel pakistan is far away from revolution, we are not capable to stand toghter for a cause, we prefer to pull down others squabbles ,cant look at the bigger picture, revolution is indeed very far