Fahmida Laghari, a 23-year-old medical student at Muhammadi University, Mirpurkhas, ended her life following alleged harassment and blackmail by a professor over the past few months. The incident has once again exposed the suffocating environment faced by students in institutions of higher education across the country, particularly in Sindh, where such institutions are increasingly being viewed as unsafe spaces for students.
In recent years, several students have been found dead under mysterious circumstances in their hostel rooms at various institutions, often linked to harassment and pressure from faculty members. Namrita Kumari, a Hindu student from Larkana, was found dead in her room at Chandka Medical College, and her death remains an unsolved mystery. Similarly, Nosheen Shah died under unexplained circumstances in 2021, while Nadia Ashraf reportedly took her own life after being harassed by a professor.
Fahmida allegedly died by suicide after shooting herself. According to the initial post-mortem report, she sustained a bullet wound on the left side of her chest. Blood samples, clothes, and hair have been sent for DNA examination, while police recovered two live bullets from the scene.
The bereaved parents, speaking to the media, claimed that they had registered a case against five faculty members, including three professors, at a local police station. They allege that their daughter was subjected to continuous harassment, which created circumstances that ultimately forced her to take her life. According to the family, one of the professors had been blackmailing Fahmida for a prolonged period, and she had informed her parents and relatives about the distress she was facing.
The parents further stated that they had approached university authorities and lodged complaints with senior officials, but no action was taken. They also expressed serious concerns over the police’s slow response and failure to arrest the main accused.
Following public outrage, Sindh Home Minister Zia ul Hassan Lanjar took notice of the incident. The DIG of Mirpurkhas Division has constituted a three-member inquiry team to investigate the matter and submit a report within ten days.
Meanwhile, the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council has reiterated its claim of maintaining a zero-tolerance policy toward harassment in medical institutions.
Civil society groups and human rights organizations across Sindh have strongly condemned the incident, demanding justice for Fahmida Laghari and calling for urgent reforms to ensure student safety and accountability within educational institutions.