Pakistan university student critically injured after 'suicide attempt' on campus

A 21-year-old female student at a Pakistani university was seriously injured after allegedly attempting suicide by jumping from a campus building, officials said, marking the second such incident at the institution in less than three weeks.

The student, identified as Fatima, is enrolled in the Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm-D) program at the University of Lahore. She survived the fall but sustained multiple injuries, including fractures and serious head trauma, according to hospital officials.

Dr Yahya, an emergency official at Lahore General Hospital, said the student was initially given emergency treatment before being moved to the intensive care unit. He added that she suffered severe head and chest injuries as well as fractures to both legs, and that a team of senior doctors was overseeing her treatment.

In contrast, University of Lahore Registrar Ali Aslam told a news conference that the student’s condition had improved and that she was now out of immediate danger, adding that her recovery was being closely monitored.

Police in Lahore’s Nawab Town area said they responded promptly to the incident and have opened an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the fall. Following the incident, the university suspended all on-campus academic activities until further notice and shifted classes online, citing student safety concerns.

Aslam also addressed speculation about academic pressures, saying there were reports of incomplete coursework but that no conclusions could be drawn until the inquiry was completed. He said scholarships at the university are awarded at the time of admission and are subject to a student’s academic performance during the first semester.

Previous incident

The latest case follows the death of 22-year-old Pharm-D student Muhammad Awais Sultan on Dec. 19, who died after falling from a university building. That incident prompted Punjab’s education minister to form an inquiry committee and led to student protests calling for reforms in mental health support, counselling services and campus safety.

The two incidents have renewed scrutiny of student welfare and safety at the university, with authorities and student representatives calling for an independent investigation into the underlying causes.