The number of people committing suicide is increasing in Pakistan
Faisalabad (AsiaNews) - During the first nine months of 2003 more than 2,575 people committed suicide in different parts of the country. Out of these, there were 1,493 cases of male suicide, 805 cases of women self-murder, 184 cases of male child suicide and 93 cases of female child Hara-kiri were recorded.
The research by an NGO, Madadgaar revealed that besides 2,575 cases of committed suicide all over the country, 922 cases of attempted suicide were also reported from 1st January to 30th September 2003. Suicides are more common in Sindh and Punjab province and the magnitude is less in NWFP and Baluchistan. In the rural Sindh the print media reported 43 suicides
from September 25 to October 25, 2003. According to the latest print media report 203 people committed suicide in Punjab province during the last six months from January - June 2004.
As many as 108 people committed suicide in a month, revealed a Human Right Commission's report. According to the report some 38 women committed suicide within one month from January 25, 2004 to February 25, 2004. About 26 persons who killed themselves were under the age of 20 years making 42 percent of these suicides. It is also reported that 90 persons attempted to commit suicide but somehow were saved by providing timely medical treatment.
Nearly eighty-eight people have committed suicide in Islamabad and Rawalpindi during
last one year. This was disclosed by Global Foundation in an investigative report.
People used different ways in committing suicide, by hanging themselves, by gunshot, by drowning, from poison, vein slit, from falling a building, from electricity and coming in front of speedy train. According to Section 325 Pakistan Penal Code (PPC) whoever attempts to commit suicide and does any act towards the commission of such offence shall be punished with simple imprisonment for a term, which may extend to one year or with fine, or both.
The government promulgated the Mental Health Ordinance 2001, "a person who attempts suicide shall be assessed by an approved psychiatrist and if found to be mentally disordered shall be treated". According to the research findings of different NGO's domestic problems/disputes, unemployment, police torture, poverty, long illness, depression, marriage dispute, divorce litigation, failure in love and corporal punishment(in children) are the major causes of committing suicide in the country.
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