ISLAMABAD: The Senate Functional Committee on Human Rights has directed Suthra Punjab authorities to settle all pending payments owed to the family of Zeeshan Arshad, a worker who tragically took his own life after setting himself on fire. The committee emphasized that these dues must be cleared before its next meeting.
The session was held at Parliament Lodges in Islamabad, chaired by Senator Samina Mumtaz Zehri. The committee reviewed the circumstances surrounding Zeeshan’s death in Gujranwala in July 2026, which he reportedly carried out in protest over unpaid wages.
During the proceedings, Zeeshan’s family claimed they had not received the full compensation owed to them, including payments related to a property plot. The chairperson instructed Suthra Punjab officials to refrain from providing misleading information and to ensure all outstanding payments are transferred to the family promptly.
Family Raises Concerns Over Salary Deductions
Zeeshan’s relatives told the committee that he survived for 19 days after the incident but had not received approximately one and a half months’ salary. They recounted that Zeeshan had previously approached the authorities multiple times regarding salary issues and deductions.
A relative revealed that Zeeshan had recorded a video shortly before the incident, blaming an individual named “Chattha Sahib” for his distress. The committee inquired about this person, and officials identified Chattha as the head of Imperial Waste Management.
According to family sources, Zeeshan had expressed his intention to collect his unpaid wages, warning that he might resort to extreme measures if his demands were not met. They further alleged that Zeeshan had approached the deputy commissioner but was met with dismissive remarks and threats of legal action if he persisted.
The family also claimed that Zeeshan’s grievances about wage deductions had not been properly addressed by authorities.
Questions Raised Over Incident and Worker Safety
Senator Zehri questioned why Zeeshan was not stopped before he took such a drastic step. She asked for clarity on the circumstances that led to the tragedy.
The committee learned that Zeeshan, son of Jawed Arshad, worked as a Naib Qasid in the IT department of a Suthra Punjab office. CCTV footage reportedly captured the moment Zeeshan poured petrol over himself and set himself ablaze in a corridor, in view of staff members, after allegedly visiting the office to complain about the contractor’s conduct.
The family alleged that the contractor had been illegally deducting a substantial portion of workers’ salaries, which were supposed to be Rs.21,000 per month. Despite multiple complaints, they claimed, many grievances remained unaddressed for months.
In a recorded video statement, Zeeshan reportedly stated that his children were starving and demanded full payment of his wages, which he believed would alleviate his family’s suffering.
