Man self-immolates outside PM Secretariat in Islamabad
60
A man self-immolated outside the Prime Minister Secretariat in Islamabad on Friday, with Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Hamza Shafqaat saying he was "mentally disturbed".
Shafqaat added that the deceased, identified as Faisal Mehmood, was a resident of Murree and was mentally unstable and a drug addict.
The claim about Mehmood's mental health could not be independently verified.
A First Information Report (FIR) had been registered against Mehmood last year for allegedly attempting to abuse a minor girl and he had been declared an absconder in December 2019, the Islamabad deputy commissioner said.
Before setting himself on fire, the man said that he did not trust the Rawalpindi police which was why he was taking this step.
Shafqaat added that the man had some medical problems as well and had recently visited Polyclinic Hospital.
The Islamabad chief commissioner ordered a judicial inquiry into the matter to "ascertain the facts" and directed the inquiry committee to submit a report within 48 hours.
Correction: An earlier version of this story incorrectly stated that the incident happened outside the PM House. In fact, it happened outside the PM Secretariat. The error is regretted.
Read more
On DawnNews
Comments (60) Closed
Apr 03, 2020 07:03pm
Where is Mr. PM Niazi, and his priorities ?? Poor citizens ..
Recommend
0
Apr 03, 2020 07:05pm
Shame on you. He was not mental enough to commit suicide in front of PM house, instead anywhere else.
Recommend
0
Apr 03, 2020 07:05pm
"mentally disturbed" !!!
Recommend
0
Apr 03, 2020 07:06pm
The Beginning . . .
Recommend
0
Apr 03, 2020 07:20pm
All lies and deceits by Islamabad authorities, if person was mentally unstable, how would he knows to burn him self in front of PM house .Shame on PTI Govt
Recommend
0
Apr 03, 2020 07:22pm
IK is not bothered
Recommend
0
Apr 03, 2020 07:31pm
Poor people are always mentally disturbed and generally called as "mental cases" as they are the people who actually speaks the truth.
Recommend
0
Apr 03, 2020 07:32pm
Now PM will constitute a commission headed by the head of tiger force to investigate.
Recommend
0
Apr 03, 2020 07:35pm
Asserting that he was "mentally disturbed" and an absconder condones nothing.
Recommend
0
Apr 03, 2020 07:45pm
His death and background should be investigated in any case independently from the police.
Recommend
0
Apr 03, 2020 07:46pm
He died because of poverty and hunger. This is just the beginning
Recommend
0
Apr 03, 2020 07:48pm
Very sad, he became the victim of incompetent and corrupt system.
Recommend
0
Apr 03, 2020 08:05pm
Mr DC is super genius who knows everything before investigation. Whats the need of an inquiry committee
Recommend
0
Apr 03, 2020 08:10pm
No doubt mental illness has caused very serious damage for the nation in last 20 months. Now people have no choice.....sad.
Recommend
0
Apr 03, 2020 08:13pm
The nation is paying a heavy price for the last mistake......
Recommend
0
Apr 03, 2020 08:19pm
A mentally disturbed person has to self immolate himself in front of PM house necessarily??? No doubt, in such abysmal state of affairs, everyone has become mentally disturbed.
Recommend
0
Apr 03, 2020 08:26pm
Same can be said about everyone having suicidal tendencies, mentally disturbed? May the sanity prevail where it dwells
Recommend
0
Apr 03, 2020 08:29pm
The one who claims he was 'mentally disturbed' deserve to visit psychologist.
Recommend
0
Apr 03, 2020 08:36pm
Two months back, man self immolated in front of India Gate protesting Modi's CAA action.
Recommend
0
Apr 03, 2020 08:38pm
That's how the story goes........
Recommend
0
Apr 03, 2020 08:38pm
@Amit,
India is the hub of self immolations, rapes and farmer suicides. Go read before crying here.
Recommend
0
Apr 03, 2020 08:43pm
where are those people who were backing complete lockdown 24/7 ?
Recommend
0
Apr 03, 2020 08:51pm
How comes mentally disturbed selected PM house location for suicide..need indepth inquiry. If he was disturbed mentally how he selected this prime sensitive location despite of all time available police and rest of the federal units...
Recommend
0
Apr 03, 2020 08:54pm
Something is fishy, the inquiry will bring out nothing but all lies.
Recommend
0
Apr 03, 2020 09:06pm
@M. Emad,
"The beginning.."
Keep hoping. Venom in your blood. Will corrode nobody but yourself.
Recommend
0
Apr 03, 2020 09:09pm
Please hold your comments on his character for he is not here to defend himself.
Recommend
0
Apr 03, 2020 09:20pm
Why are these cases are becoming a norm? Why our police is so lethal that no one dares to challenge it? Why lives have become so cheap? Has someone got answers?
Recommend
0
Apr 03, 2020 09:21pm
Clearly the drama of failed PTI government is coming to an end. I am not surprised.
Recommend
0
Apr 03, 2020 09:31pm
@Saad Ahmed, A million dollar question.
Recommend
0
Apr 03, 2020 09:52pm
The DC should be ashamed of making such remarks against a dead person.
Recommend
0
Apr 03, 2020 09:55pm
@M. Emad, 'The Beginning . . .'
.... Of 15 years rule of IK.
Recommend
0
Apr 03, 2020 10:07pm
Why poor people are always Tagged as mentally disturbed...
Recommend
0
Apr 03, 2020 10:10pm
Extreme poverty drives people to extreme actions. Hope PM tweets about this soul.
Recommend
0
Apr 03, 2020 10:14pm
All poor are absconder in this coo because they have been treated on the same way and this is Naya Pakistan not old one therefore number of absconder are increasing rapidly.
Recommend
0
Apr 03, 2020 10:27pm
Easy to wash off your hand by saying he was mentally disturbed. Just an expected explanation.
Recommend
0
Apr 03, 2020 10:33pm
Yup, just blame this poverty and helplessness on mental illness.
Recommend
0
Apr 03, 2020 10:35pm
@Amit, Criticism is easy and lip service is free.
Recommend
0
Apr 03, 2020 10:56pm
Easy way to get away with but commissioner must understand their hand is in blood
Recommend
0
Apr 03, 2020 11:16pm
he commits suicide because he was hungry,deprived and no body is there to listen his pain feel ashamed to be a pakistani
Recommend
0
Apr 03, 2020 11:17pm
What about two recent cases where a rickshaw puller committed self immolation because of crushing poverty and in second case a person self immolated because his son asked for woolen cloth in winter but he was too poor to purchase it.
Both addressed PM IK in their suicide note and stated that extreme poverty and joblessness is forcing them to end their life.
Were they also mentally disturbed?
This person , instead of safely self immolating in home , burned himself in front of PM house, so it is obvious that you would dismiss him as mentally disturbed as it suits you to dismiss his demise that way there by absolving the ruler of any responsibility for the harrowing life poor and unemployed are faced with.
Recommend
0
Apr 03, 2020 11:42pm
Truth is exposed.
Recommend
0
Apr 03, 2020 11:43pm
@Indian, How do you know from India, being an Indian, that he died of hunger & poverty? Explain.
Recommend
0
Apr 03, 2020 11:54pm
@Indian, You know more about Pakistan, than India.
Recommend
0
Apr 03, 2020 11:59pm
Please it was near PM Secretariat as Dawn clarified.
Recommend
0
Apr 04, 2020 12:11am
IK's government has a label for everyone protesting
Recommend
0
Apr 04, 2020 12:15am
@Haroon, Last mistakes or Govts present inability to overcome the crises.
Recommend
0
Apr 04, 2020 12:25am
I don't believe a word of this version of events. I think most people who have ever had the misfortune to deal with the Police and their behaviour will know.
Recommend
0
Apr 04, 2020 12:35am
He had nothing left to lose, so he eliminated himself. Nobody wants to live as a beggar.
Recommend
0
Apr 04, 2020 01:02am
@Sid,
Mr. Sid,
Correct.
Recommend
0
Apr 04, 2020 01:05am
@ Kumar(Varanasi),
Mr. Kumar(Varanasi),
In Pakistan there are no rickshaw pullers like India and Bangladesh.
Recommend
0
Apr 04, 2020 01:08am
Does this theory show that mentally unstable people self immolate themselves? Seriously? He seems to be a mentally disturbed person who was falsely accused and was left with no other option than to end his life.
Recommend
0
Apr 04, 2020 01:18am
Heartbreaker... Condolences... R I P
Gordon D. Walker
Canada
Recommend
0
Apr 04, 2020 02:16am
@M. Emad, like Modi.
Recommend
0
Apr 04, 2020 02:33am
He was seeking justice
Recommend
0
Apr 04, 2020 04:25am
Deputy Commissioner is making stories. The poor man may have had enough of PTI. I know a 28 years old who drank Harpic Acid due to overburden of cost of living.
Recommend
0
Apr 04, 2020 07:00am
Outside PM secretariat not house
Recommend
0
Apr 04, 2020 07:10am
@Amit, at least he was not burning his countrymen because of their religion.....
Recommend
0
Apr 04, 2020 07:45am
Our police force still operating under 1898 colonial era penal code, is infamous for its high handedness and master to slave attitude towards common man on the street, by narrating this make believe story, is trying to coverup their negligence and incompetence as usual. Let the judicial enquiry solve this puzzle and give a chance to the present govt. which time and again promised of bringing in good governance, clean and efficient administration to the country, to prove its credentials by delivering justice if the narrative of police is proved wrong.
Recommend
0
Apr 04, 2020 09:55am
Corona virus and no Corona virus, the situations in Pakistan are very dark since long. This guy committed suicide for his inability to feed himself and his family, which is a great humiliation for any one. Yes, at this moment no use of blaming PM IMRAN KHAN as he does not have any money to do anything. Sad incidence, RIP poor soul.
Recommend
0
Apr 04, 2020 11:09am
@Indian, did he confide you before?
Recommend
0
