The inquiry report into the suicide of University of Lahore (UoL) student Muhammad Owais Sultan has revealed that he had been dealing with psychological issues for a long time, but no counseling was provided to him. The report suggests he took this step due to severe mental pressure, and it appears to be a premeditated act.
According to details, the Punjab Higher Education Department formed a 4-member independent and transparent inquiry committee after Owaiss Sultan jumped from the third floor of UOL. The committee was led by Vice Chancellor University of Education, Professor Dr. Aaqif Anwar Chaudhry. Director Punjab Higher Education Commission, Dr. Muhammad Asif Munir, was the secretary and member, while Vice Chancellor University of Home Economics, Professor Dr. Zeb-un-Nisa, and Rector University of Management and Technology, Dr. Asif Reza, were part of the committee.
The committee visited UOL and Owais Sultan’s home village, meeting with university officials, faculty, and security personnel to gather facts. They also spoke with his relatives.
The report states that Owais Sultan was a fifth-semester student with good academic performance (CGPA 3.14) and had satisfactory attendance in most subjects, except one where he had a shortage. There were still enough classes left to make up for it, possibly due to his habit of arriving late to early morning classes. The 75% attendance requirement is a mandatory condition in many Pakistani universities, including UOL.
After the incident, the university provided immediate medical aid and shifted him to Lahore General Hospital for specialized treatment. However, the committee noted that the university should have suspended the ongoing International Food Festival event to show respect and sensitivity.
The committee recommended that UOL establish a student counseling ecosystem. The Higher Education Department, Government of Punjab (PHEC), should issue a directive for all universities to set up psychological counseling centers. Universities should also conduct mental health first aid and faculty capacity-building programs and regularly organize seminars and awareness campaigns to prevent such incidents.
The committee submitted its detailed report, hoping its recommendations will help prevent such unfortunate incidents in the future.