Man who set himself on fire at LHC dies in hospital

A man who set himself on fire at the Lahore High Court (LHC) on Tuesday in protest against delayed justice has succumbed to his injuries, his family confirmed on Friday, the 24NewsHD TV channel reported.

The man, identified as Asif Javed, was seen leaving a courtroom before dousing himself in petrol and setting himself ablaze in an open area of the court premises.

Eyewitnesses reported that as flames engulfed his body, Javed screamed for justice, expressing his frustration over the prolonged legal battle. 

Bystanders rushed to his aid, throwing water and covering him with a shawl, while a police officer used a fire extinguisher to douse the flames. 

Rescue 1122 personnel then provided first aid before shifting him to Mayo Hospital, where he was initially declared out of danger.

However, Javed’s brother confirmed on Friday that he had succumbed to his injuries.

According to Rescue 1122, Asif was a union leader at a multinational food and beverage plant in Kabirwala. He was terminated in 2015 along with other employees, allegedly due to his union activities.

The sacked workers took legal action, filing cases in the Labour Court and National Industrial Relations Commission (NIRC), which ruled in their favor and ordered their reinstatement along with pending dues.

However, the company challenged the verdict in the Lahore High Court, where the case remained pending for five years. Frustrated by the delayed verdict, Javed took the desperate and fatal step.