Failing exam: Varsity staffer sets himself on fire

Employee of Allama Iqbal Open University attempts self-immolation allegedly over failing his departmental examination.

ISLAMABAD: An employee of the Allama Iqbal Open University (AIOU) attempted self-immolation allegedly over failing all papers in his departmental examination. Sher Zeb, the Naib Qasid to the deputy director of AIOU, tried to set himself on fire after sprinkling kerosene oil on his clothes and body. However, the bystanders on the university campus managed to stop him from setting fire to his clothes and took him indoors.

However, police officials said that Zeb managed to escape before they arrived at the campus. A case of attempted suicide had been registered against the naib qasid.

According to an initial inquiry, Zeb told his colleagues that he was under immense mental stress after he could not clear the departmental examination. Police suspected that the Naib Qasid thought that he had lost a chance to promotion after failing the exams. However, the exact cause of the incident could not be determined as yet.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 13^th, 2010.