GUJRANWALA, July 22: Eleven people, including five women, have committed suicide by taking poison over domestic issues during a fortnight while 40 others are being treated at the DHQ hospital, a survey conducted by Dawn reveals.
Highlighting the escalating suicide trend among the people, the survey found that over 51 people, most of them women, attempted suicide during the period under review and were brought to the DHQ hospital. Eleven of them breathed their last.
Doctors said dejected boys and girls were more prone to committing suicide by taking wheat and rat pills being sold in the market without any licence or permit.
The social circles have demanded that the district administration and health department should immediately ban sale of poisonous pills.
A woman of Dhulley, who attempted suicide, said she quarreled with her husband over house expenditure. Dejected and depressed, she said she could not control herself and took the extreme step without giving the least thought to its repercussions.
Muhammad Boota said he had moved from pillar to post to get job but all his efforts proved futile. Though he took poisonous pills, doctors saved him by providing him prompt treatment.
Malik Fayyaz of Faqirpura said he wanted to get rid of his persistent woes he had been suffering after diagnosis of many diseases. While two others took the step in a fit of depression owing to “failure in love.”
Many other suicidals this correspondent talked to quoted domestic worries as the major reason for attempting suicide.
Notices: Over a dozen members of health mobile teams were served show cause notice by the respective district officer on charges of absence during the anti-polio campaign here on Saturday.
Reports said these employees were deputed for administering vaccine to children in Naushera Virkan, Wahando, Tetley, Kamoki and other remote areas.
When DO (health) Dr Riasat Ali paid surprise visits, they were found absent.
BAIL PLEA REJECTED: A local court on Saturday rejected the bail application of a `Pir’ in a blasphemy case.
Reports said police had arrested Muhammad Sadiq in a blasphemy case and sent him to jail a few days ago.
The court rejected his bail application following hearing both the parties.
PROTEST: The district bar association has strongly protested against Israeli attack on Lebanon and killing of innocent people, terming it a worst example of terrorism at the behest of US and other European countries.
Speaking at a meeting held here on Saturday presided over by bar president Ilyas Rehan, lawyers demanded that world powers should play their active role in this regard.
They appealed to all Muslim countries to intervene and get the killing of innocent people stopped.
SIALKOT JAIL CASE: The anti-terrorism court No. 1 on Saturday continued the hearing of Sialkot jail incident case and recorded statements of two important witnesses — former additional home secretary Fazeel Asgher and Sialkot ex-DCO Zahid Saeed.
The court adjourned the case till Monday.