Police officials on duty rushed to save the 35 year old's life and took him to hospital in a serious condition.– File Photo

ISLAMABAD: A jobless Pakistani father of two set himself alight in a suicide bid outside parliament on Monday and was admitted to hospital in a critical condition, officials said.

Raja Khan, from the rural town of Naushero Feroz in southern Sindh province, sprinkled himself with fuel before setting himself alight, police spokesman Naeem Iqbal told AFP.

Police officials on duty rushed to save the man's life and took him to hospital in a serious condition, Iqbal said.

Khan left behind a letter, saying that he was exhausted by poverty, along with a bag of clothes and his ID card, said another police officer who spoke to AFP from the local station on condition of anonymity.

“I am responsible for my death. I am taking this step because I am fed up with my financial condition,” said the officer, quoting from the letter.

“If I die I should be buried in Islamabad. I have two children. The government should take care of them.”

Police said the man appeared suddenly on the road in front of parliament.

When stopped he said “I want to die” and doused himself with kerosene from a bottle, said the police official, requesting anonymity.

Doctor Farrukh Kamal at the burns unit of the Pakistani Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) said Khan was in a critical condition in intensive care.

“He has 90 percent burns. We're trying to save his life,” he told AFP.

There has been a wave of self-immolations around the world in the past year since the death in Tunisia of Mohamed Bouazizi, a 26-year-old fruit seller, whose protest grew into a popular uprising that sparked the “Arab Spring”.

In southwest China, nine Tibetans have set fire to themselves over recent months in protest at what they say is Beijing's repression of their religion and culture.

Opinion

Editorial

‘Source of terror’
Updated 29 Mar, 2024

‘Source of terror’

It is clear that going after militant groups inside Afghanistan unilaterally presents its own set of difficulties.
Chipping in
29 Mar, 2024

Chipping in

FEDERAL infrastructure development schemes are located in the provinces. Most such projects — for instance,...
Toxic emitters
29 Mar, 2024

Toxic emitters

IT is concerning to note that dozens of industries have been violating environmental laws in and around Islamabad....
Judiciary’s SOS
Updated 28 Mar, 2024

Judiciary’s SOS

The ball is now in CJP Isa’s court, and he will feel pressure to take action.
Data protection
28 Mar, 2024

Data protection

WHAT do we want? Data protection laws. When do we want them? Immediately. Without delay, if we are to prevent ...
Selling humans
28 Mar, 2024

Selling humans

HUMAN traders feed off economic distress; they peddle promises of a better life to the impoverished who, mired in...