Student who self-immolated after being barred from exam committed suicide: police

KARACHI: In its investigation report, police declared on Wednesday that the medical student who self-immolated had committed suicide.

“Basit committed suicide out of disappointment,” said DIG-West Feroz Shah.

Abdul Basit, 27, a Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) final year student at the Hamdard University died at the burns ward of the Civil Hospital Karachi (CHK) in the wee hours of Tuesday.

“He went to the college’s vice principal to take permission to sit for the exam but was denied,” Shah explained, adding that on being denied permission, Basit took out petrol from his motorcycle and set himself on fire.

According to senior medico-legal officer Dr Nasir Shah, Basit had suffered about 86 percent burn injuries.

Basit’s family, friends and colleagues refuse to believe that he had killed himself and have demanded an investigation in the case.

“He wanted to be a doctor. He was an educated child. He could not commit suicide. He was killed,” his mother said on Tuesday.

“I have lived with my brother for 28 years. I know him. He couldn't commit suicide,” said Basit’s older brother Majid.

Taimuria SHO Irfan Ahmed said Basit’s family wanted to file a murder case against the management of the Hamdard University’s Hamdard College of Medicine and Dentistry.

He added that the family believed that it was not a suicide case and police needed more time to gather information and evidence before reaching a conclusion.