A Pakistani schoolboy died after dousing himself in petrol and setting himself alight because his family couldn’t afford to buy him a school uniform.
Promising student Kamran Khan, 13, attended a local private school for free on a scholarship but was embarrassed his parents couldn’t replace his old worn-out school uniform.
When his parents refused to buy him a new one he threatened to commit suicide before dousing himself in petrol and setting himself on fire.
Kamran Khan, 13, set himself on fire when his parents couldn’t afford to buy him a new white shalwar kameez, the loose-fitting shirt and pants worn by both men and women in Pakistan, to wear to school. Stock image
He suffered burns over 65 per cent of his body – and later died in hospital from his wounds.
His brother Saleem Khan told how Kamran had never asked for anything before but begged his parents for days for a new white shalwar kameez, the loose-fitting shirt and pants worn by both men and women in Pakistan, after joining the school.
Saleem told how Kamran argued with his mother – a maid – who lost her patience and slapped the boy, telling him they couldn’t afford new school clothes.
He said the teenager then threatened to commit suicide if they didn’t get him one.
Kamran then stormed out of the family home in Shabqadar, a town with a population of 60,000 in northwest Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, before dousing himself in petrol and setting himself on fire.
He was rushed to an army-run hospital in Punjab province but the family could only raise one-tenth of the $5,500 they needed for his treatment and so he did not get the care he needed.
Saleem told how his family had been struggling to get by and provide for their children, even with the school fees waved.
