RAWALPINDI, June 18: Poverty, unemployment and domestic issues forced 39 people to commit suicide last year in Rawalpindi district, according to data collected from 25 police stations of the city.

Muhammad Riaz, 50, a resident of Ganjmandi was the last on the tally who hanged himself on June 14 that was too because of poverty but went unnoticed by the government that claims poverty has been reduced by 10.6 per cent.

Mr Riaz survived by his five sons committed suicide after failing to pay his house rent to the owner who used to visit his house and demanded rent.

No body would bother to recall the heart-breaking tragedy of Muhammad Riaz except for his sons and wife as they have lost the only bread-earner, although a government official and elected representative of Rawalpindi visited Mr Riaz and condoled with the five little kids of his family.

Muhammad Riaz is not a single case in Rawalpindi as the trend of suicide due to poverty has alarmingly increased in the district.

On May 19, 2006, Rashid Zubair, 28, a master degree holder shot himself dead after finding no job despite his excessive efforts.

According to police record, 40 per cent youth committed suicide in the last year due to unemployment.

Similarly, Safeer Hussain, son of Muhammad Hussain deputy director in Pakistan Telecommunication Limited (PTCL) in the jurisdiction of Airport police station shot himself dead with pistol due to unemployment.

Muhammad Saleem, 45, a resident of Dhoke Ratta Amral committed suicide by taking poisonous tablets as he could not manage to pay off the school expenses of his children.

The police record shows that poverty compelled majority of people to commit suicide in both rural and urban areas, however, the record mentions domestic problems another reason for self-murder cases.—A Reporter