Out of despair: Man attempts self immolation

Says his children are unable to find jobs despite being educated.

KARAK: A man sustained severe burn injuries when he set himself on fire in front of the district and sessions court in Karak on Wednesday morning, said the police.

Shah Muhammad, a resident of Chapri Bhanda who is in his fifties, doused himself in petrol at the crowded square in front of the courtroom building at around 10am and then lit a match, setting himself ablaze, informed City police SHO Muhammad Riaz.

Eye witness Zahid Khattak said people rushed towards the man and poured water to extinguish the fire just in time to save his life.



The injured man told bystanders he attempted self immolation because his sons and daughters were not able to get jobs despite being educated.

He told the crowd his sons were graduates while his daughters had passed their higher secondary school certificate (HSSC) exams, explaining they were not offered any employment despite repeated appeals to district and provincial government officials.

SHO Riaz said Muhammad and his family had been starving since the last four days, as a result of which he took the extreme step. He added Muhammad was shifted to DHQ Hospital, Karak in critical condition and later referred to a hospital in Peshawar.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 14^th,2013.