KARACHI: A rickshaw driver, who set himself on fire after a policeman fined and impounded his three-wheeler for an alleged traffic violation two days ago, died at a local hospital on Monday.

“Mohammad Khalid, 28, died of burn wounds during treatment at 2.30am on Monday at the Burns Centre of Dr Ruth Pfau Civil Hospital Karachi,” said Additional Police Surgeon Qarar Ahmed Abbasi.

Following his death, the police booked Head Constable Mohammad Hanif, who was already in custody after an inquiry proved that he fined the deceased to get ‘illegal gratification’, under Section 322 (manslaughter) of the Pakistan Penal Code.

Karachi police chief Dr Amir Ahmed Shaikh told Dawn that the victim driver had been fined 18 times by the traffic police during the past two years.

“We are trying to figure out why the driver took such extreme action over a minor challan,” he said.

According to a suicide note presented by a brother of the victim to the police, he made it clear that he was not attempting self-immolation due to any domestic difficulties or some loan and he considered suicide a forbidden act.

He also held the traffic policeman responsible for his death and stated that he fined and seized his rickshaw for not giving Rs50 as a bribe.

The suicide note was also incorporated in an FIR (274/2018).

A probe report prepared by SSP Traffic (South) Asif Ahmed Bughio said that Khalid was fined under Code 33, which is related to speed of the metre, but the challan officer did not bother to apply his mind and enforced the code.

“The application of wrong code shows mala fide intention of the officer [HC Mohammad Hanif],” the report said, adding: “Further, it was done for ulterior motive and to get illegal gratification.”

“We demand nothing but justice. The traffic constable whose insult and abuse pushed my brother into an extreme situation should be inflicted with the same pain my brother had to go through.”

That’s how Abdul Aziz, elder brother of Khalid, responded when asked about what his family would demand from the government.

He was speaking to journalists at the family’s Model Colony residence where a large number of people had gathered to offer their condolence to the family and attend the funeral. Khalid was unmarried and had four brothers.

His suicide, he said, indicated how difficult it had become for the poor to survive with honesty.

Published in Dawn, October 23rd, 2018

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