KARACHI, Feb 23: Prof Maula Bukhsh Jamali, who shot himself in the mouth on Sunday, was declared brain dead on Monday, said the medical superintendent of the Civil Hospital Karachi.

However, he was on a ventilator until 11pm. At around this time, Capt Dr Ali Raza told Dawn that Prof Jamali's son was expected to reach Karachi, from the United States, by midnight.

"He is the person who is going to decide whether Prof Jamali should be taken off the ventilator or not," said the Civil hospital's medical superintendent. Answering a question, Dr Raza said the former professor was expected to be taken off the ventilator.

"Should such a decision be taken, his body will be taken to his home town in the interior of the province in an ambulance." The police said a bullet had pierced the 70-year-old former professor's skull.

The professor had retired from government service in 1999. Following separation from his wife, he was living alone in his house, assisted by a servant. Most of his children lived in the United States.