Cure not the penalty

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In everyday life a human being has to experience some sort of problems. Nature of problems of every man vary from that of others for several reasons: difference in professions, family environment and the company a man keeps, to mention but a few. In this materialistic world, naturally, many problems often keep a human being mentally stressed. Many finds it difficult to face problems or seek an alternative way that could help them escape the mental stress and so suicidal thoughts springs to their mind. The depression and the anxiety caused by factors, best known to an individual who attempts to take his own life, pave the way to commit suicide. Psychiatrists are of the opinion that suicide attempt is made in an absolute mental disturbance in most of the cases.
According to an estimate by the World Health Organization (WHO) almost 800,000 people die by suicide annually, making it a global phenomenon. Both the succeeded attempt of suicide and failed are anything but good. The former is haram (un-lawful) in Islam while the latter is outlawed, not in all, but, in many countries including Pakistan. Section 325 of Pakistan Penal Code (PPC), a colonial-era law, criminalizes attempt of suicide in Pakistan.
The section in question states: “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 with both.” Taking the above facts into account, will someone endorse penalty for an individual who needs treatment? Not at all. Experts, too, are of the view, that the survived of an attempted suicide needs treatment not the punishment. For the latter is no optimum answer in any circumstances.
A disturbed human being who goes for taking his own life should be treated as a patient not as an accused to penalize him for his failed attempt of suicide. The crude suicide rate in Pakistan, according to WHO Global Health Estimates 2016, was 2.9 per 100,000 population in 2015 and 2016. Due to no official statistics it is hard to determine the exact suicide rate in Pakistan. It is a common belief that suicide is often committed by those who are illiterate or less educated, but the reality is different. Many highly educated individuals have ended their life.
A case in point is the suicide of an SP in his office in Rawalpindi early this year. If section 325 was suffice, the cases of suicide won’t increase by leaps and bounds over the years in this country. Luckily, the suicide rate in Pakistan is lower when compared with other countries but complacent and believing in penalty for the survivors of the suicide may thoroughly translate this fortune into its opposite. In 2017, Senator Karim Ahmed Khawaja moved an amendment bill to decriminalize suicide. But, unfortunately, the bill was later put on the back-burner and not passed by the National Assembly. Since then no such efforts have been made again. Many countries around the world have decriminalized the failed attempt of suicide and believe in an approved fact: treatment not a penalty. India, too, has in recent years scraped section 309 of Indian Penal Code (IPC) under which attempt of suicide was once a crime. The United Arab Emirates (UAE), this week, in a landmark move, also decriminalized the same. Same efforts by the Pakistan are not in sight. Official statistics of the suicide on national level may also help determine the exact ratio of the suicide rate. It is high time Pakistan removed attempt of suicide from its list of offences.
Penalty not only adds to the misery of such persons but give them a cause to worry about their future as well. The stigma of section 325 may also result in an impediment in the career of an individual who has failed in ending his life. The government should provide care, treatment and rehabilitation to the person, who attempts suicide and has severe nervous tension, with the aim to decrease the risk of repetition of attempt to commit suicide. Indeed shifting national approach towards this very issue is the need of the hour.

The writer has deep interest in social issues. He can be reached at numanbacha20@gmail.com