A man who self -inmolved on Tuesday in the Superior Court of Lahore in protest against a delay in justice died in a hospital on Friday, his family confirmed.
On Tuesday, the eye witnesses saw the man, identified as Asif Javed, leaving the room of Judge Shujaat Ali Khan. As soon as Javed reached an open area, he poured gas on himself, took out a lighter and lit.
While I was wrapped in flames, Javed kept shouting that he was not receiving justice and wanted justice. The people present at the scene threw water into Javed and covered it with a chal.
A police officer used a fire extinguisher to turn off the flames. The 1122 rescue staff also reached the scene and provided medical aid to Asif, who was transferred to the Mayo Hospital, where it was said that his condition was out of danger.
Javed’s brother confirmed Dawn.com Friday had died at the hospital.
According to the 1122 rescue, Asif was a union leader at a plant of a multinational food and beverage company. He was fired in 2015, along with other employees, supposedly due to his union activities.
The dismissed workers transferred a Labor Court and the National Commission of Industrial Relations (NIRC), which ordered their reinstatement, together with the payment of their fees.
However, the company challenged the decision of the NIRC in the Superior Court of Lahore, where the case had been pending during the last five years. Due to the delay in the court verdict, Asif discounted and resorted to this extreme act.
