12 July 2004	Monday	23 Jamadi-ul-Awwal 1425

ISLAMABAD, July 11: Pakistan People's Party Chairperson Benazir Bhutto has expressed shock and grief over the suicide of a young man due to poverty and continued unemployment.

Naeem (32), driven by frustration over poverty and unemployment, jumped from Minar-i-Pakistan in Lahore and died instantly. The PPP chairperson, in a statement issued by the party's media cell here on Sunday, said Minar-i-Pakistan was the symbol of a sovereign Pakistan where, as envisioned by the founder fathers, there would be social justice, democracy and rule of law.

"When the absence of social justice drives people to jump to death from this symbolic tower it must shock the conscience of the nation and force us to think," she added.

Ms Bhutto said she was deeply concerned over the increasing joblessness and poverty which had multiplied manifold ever since the PPP government was overthrown by the forces of dictatorship. It was most painful that instead of addressing issues of poverty, the regime was busy witch hunting its political opponents, she added.