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Pakistani taxi driver succumbs to burns

Gul had suffered 90 per cent burns after he immolated himself outside the National Taxi office last Wednesday.

Yousuf , a relative of Gul, told Khaleej Times yesterday that he failed to gather courage to inform Gul’s family in Peshawar about his death.

“Gul has left behind his old parents, a wife and a young child who lived in Peshawar, and are unaware of his suicide attempt which resulted in his death," he said.

Yousuf expressed shock on the suicide bid by his cousin Islam Gul last week because his leave request was turned down by officials at National Taxi where he was employed for about a year.

“I used to meet Gul almost every day, but was in office on that fateful day when Gul immolated himself by pouring petrol on himself and lighting up his clothes outside the National Taxi office premises in Al Quoz. There were people present at the scene, but they could not save Gul. Because of the petrol, the fire spread fast and Gul suffered 90 per cent burns before he could be saved by his colleagues and rushed to hospital,” he said.

Yousuf expressed hope that the Dubai Police would complete all formalities and release Gul’s body today so that they can repatriate it immediately for carrying out the last rites in Pakistan. He said Gul's visa was cancelled by the company, and added that nobody from the company had come forward to extend any financial assistance or compensation to Gul’s family.

“Also, the Pakistan Consulate officials have expressed their inability to help in this situation,” Yousuf disclosed, saying that now he is only interested in getting his cousin’s body released from the morgue in Rashid Hospital, so that it can be repatriated as soon as possible.

He clarified that Gul, who was in Dubai for over two years, and with the National Taxi for about a year, had no financial problems back home. “He never discussed any such problem with me and did not appear depressed. However, I am shocked to learn that he could take such a drastic step only because his leave request was turned down by his company," he added.

According to a source, his leave request was rejected by the company since he had not completed a year in service with the National Taxi.

This is the first case of self-immolation by an expatriate worker registered in Dubai, according to a Dubai Police source. The police was immediately informed about the suicide bid and rushed to the site where they found some of the National Taxi staff trying to save Gul by dousing out the fire. But he suffered severe burns and was rushed to the Rashid Hospital where doctors said his condition was critical.

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