KARACHI, Feb 24: Prof Maula Bukhsh Jamali, who had attempted suicide by shooting himself in the mouth on Sunday, was pronounced dead on Tuesday afternoon at the Civil Hospital where he had been admitted in Surgical ICU.

"On Tuesday afternoon, all his vital systems collapsed and he was declared dead by a medical board comprising Professor Tipu Sultan and Dr Saeeda Haider" Medical Superintendent of the Civil Hospital Capt Ali Raza told Dawn.

Earlier, doctors had declared Mr Jamali 'brain dead' on Monday night and kept him on ventilator till Tuesday afternoon when his ECG stopped showing heart activity, the MS added.

Prof Jamali's children arrived from the US and Canada early Tuesday morning. His body was sent to native town, Nawabshah. Police said a bullet had pierced the 70-year-old professor's skull. His son had rushed him to the JPMC from where he was referred to the Civil Hospital.

The professor had retired from government service in 1999. Since his separation from his wife, he was living alone but was assisted by a servant.