BAHAWALPUR, July 7: A man on Thursday attempted self-immolation in front of the DIG office as a protest against police failure to arrest four people who had allegedly raped his wife a few days back at Khairpur Tamewali, about 50km from here. Eye-witnesses said Bashir Ahmed poured oil on his body and set himself on fire. On seeing this, some officials and passersby rushed him to the Bahawal Victoria Hospital. At the time of the attempted self-immolation, Bashir’s wife Noshi alias Sajida was also present. He was stated to be critical.

Meanwhile, a police release issued on Thursday said Bashir’s wife Noshi filed an application with the Khairpur Tamewali police on June 28.

In her application, she alleged that a few days back she hired a rickshaw from Khairpur bus stand. Its driver Imran and two others attempted to rape her near Khairpur graveyard, she said and added that they escaped on raising an alarm.

The release said the Khairpur police registered an Hudood case on July 6. The police said the woman did not join investigation while she did not enjoy a good reputation as she had allegedly attempted to blackmail people earlier. Now, she forced her husband to resort to self-immolation, the police alleged.

On the other hand, the woman told reporters at the hospital that Imran, his accomplice Saiful along with two others allegedly gang-raped her and the police did not register the case.