Pakistan does not maintain a national suicide registry and consequently does not report suicide data to the World Health Organization (WHO). This absence of data collection makes it impossible to formulate evidence-based prevention strategies. Recently, a Pakistani court reaffirmed suicide as a criminal act, rejecting the notion of a right to die, a decision challenged by civil society groups. As sociologist Émile Durkheim argued in 1879, suicide is fundamentally a social act, requiring a societal response.
Fehmida Leghari Case: A Catalyst for Reform
A 20-year-old third-year medical student at a private college in Sindh, Fehmida Leghari, died by suicide at her home. She had been threatened by a faculty member who demanded money in exchange for passing an examination, warning she would fail if she did not comply. She confided in her father, who spoke with the college vice chancellor, but no action was taken. CCTV footage showed her being targeted by a group of students, though audio was unavailable. A false identity was created to intensify harassment and create discord among peers. The specific nature of the harassment remains undisclosed.
Fehmida came from an educated family and maintained open communication with them. She shared her distress with her father and uncle, worried about her mother's reaction. The evening before her death, she told her younger sister, “You must get me justice.” Her family, initially peaceful and without enemies, became determined to pursue legal recourse. They submitted a written response to the police investigation report to the Inspector General of Police, expressing serious reservations.
Lack of Suicide Registry Hinders Prevention
Pakistan’s absence of a national suicide registry means it cannot report accurate data to the WHO, hampering the development of targeted prevention programs. Without systematic data collection, the true scale of suicide remains unknown, and interventions cannot be evaluated. The Fehmida Leghari case underscores the urgent need for a structured suicide assessment framework that goes beyond police investigation.
Police Investigation and Family Concerns
Following Fehmida’s death, an FIR was registered naming the faculty member as the accused, who reportedly demanded Rs40,000 for passing an examination. He was arrested and is in jail. Police conducted a forensic investigation, but the family questioned its credibility, citing Pakistan’s poor police reputation. Some material was sent to Lahore for forensic analysis, and the family awaits the report. The family holds the medical college responsible for the stresses that led to Fehmida’s suicide, while the college claims it followed harassment prevention protocols.
To address these issues, a comprehensive suicide assessment framework is needed. Proposed steps include: death reported to police; police investigation to determine cause (homicide, accident, suicide, natural, or undetermined); public release of the investigation report; family submission of reservations; police response to those reservations; and final court settlement. Integrating family perspectives would be a key addition, but not all families have the education or resources to engage in this process. Government welfare departments should assist families in incorporating their views into legal proceedings.
Toward Institutional Accountability
The vision of a society where no suicide occurs due to institutional insensitivity remains distant, but work must begin now. The Fehmida Leghari case highlights the need for psychological autopsies, digital rights protection (including PECA reform), and workplace accountability. A framework such as the proposed “Islamabad Framework” for suicide assessment could serve as a model, drawing on global and local resources. Ultimately, courts must mediate disputes, and families must have avenues to challenge police findings. The goal is to prevent future tragedies by holding institutions accountable and ensuring no student or worker feels driven to suicide by harassment or lack of support.
