ISLAMABAD, Oct 2: A man tried to commit self-immolation on the Supreme Court premises apparently due to distress here on Monday.

According to eye-witnesses, Niaz Mohammad Khas Khal from Sanghar district appeared at the main gate of the Supreme Court at around 12 noon and presented a six-page handwritten statement to mediapersons and other people present there.

Later, he doused himself with kerosene oil and walked inside the gate where he set himself on fire.

One of the eye-witnesses said policemen deployed at the entrance poured water on the victim and extinguished the flames. However, by that time Niaz Mohammad had sustained critical burn injuries.

The victim was put in a police car and shifted to the Federal Government Services Hospital where he is said to have suffered more than 50 per cent burns.

Meanwhile, Niaz Mohammad in his statement said he belonged to a poor family of Sindh and worked at a laboratory in the Blue Area.

He stated that on August 28, he was heading towards his hostel in H-8/1 when three persons intercepted him and deprived him of Rs500 in cash, a mobile phone, wrist watch and a gold ring. The victim said he lodged an FIR against the unknown persons with the Industrial Area police.

The following day, three persons Vajash Kumar, Aftab and Shahid, who were also his hostel fellows, visited him at his office and claimed that he had stolen their cellphone.

They also hurled threats of dire consequences and asked Niaz Mohammad to go back to his native town. Later, he was also evicted from the hostel.

The victim also alleged that he was ill-treated by his hostel fellows during his stay which drove him into distress. He also claimed that he was being teased by his fellows after he refused to join Jeay Sindh Tehrik.

When contacted, the police said Niaz Mohammad seemed to be mentally ill, and he had been shifted to the hospital.