Domestic reasons suspected in Lahore university student’s suicide attempt: police

Sources say action would be taken against the university administration if negligence is established

LAHORE: Police are investigating a suspected suicide attempt by a 21-year-old female student who was critically injured after falling from the fourth floor of a building at the University of Lahore on Monday, officials said.

According to police sources, domestic reasons are suspected to be behind the incident. The student, identified as Fatima, was enrolled in the Doctor of Pharmacy programme. This was the second such incident at the university in less than two weeks, again involving a D-Pharmacy student.

Police said the student’s family has not yet submitted any application seeking legal action. Authorities have taken all available CCTV footage into custody and are reviewing it as part of the investigation. Police sources said action would be taken against the university administration if negligence is established.

The investigation will move forward after recording the student’s statement, police added.

Fatima remains under treatment and has sustained serious injuries to her spine and lungs, police sources said. They added that all medical tests were conducted again and information was obtained from the student’s family.

University and hospital sources said the student survived the fall but suffered critical injuries. She was initially taken to the university’s teaching hospital for emergency treatment and later shifted to a private hospital on Defence Road due to the severity of her condition. Hospital officials said she is on a ventilator and remains in critical condition.

Following the incident, the university suspended all on-campus academic activities indefinitely, citing student safety concerns. In a notification, the administration said physical classes had been cancelled and teaching would continue online. All entry and exit points were sealed as panic spread across the campus.

University of Lahore Registrar Ali Aslam said the injured student’s condition had stabilised and she was now out of danger. “The student was admitted to the university in September,” he said.

Police officials said the case is being treated with caution due to its sensitive nature. They stressed that all findings will be based on evidence gathered through CCTV footage, phone records, and statements from witnesses and family members. Investigators said they are also examining the circumstances inside the building at the time of the incident to determine whether any safety lapses occurred.

Key findings in investigation

• Police say preliminary investigation into the suspected suicide attempt by 21-year-old Fatima has revealed several important details.
• According to police, the student arrived at the university at 7:58am but did not attend her class after reaching the campus.
• Investigators said Fatima remained on a phone call for about 27 minutes before the incident. At around 8:30am, she jumped from the fourth floor of the building.
• Police said the student deleted her last call from her mobile phone before the jump.

The investigation also found that the student had been given a new mobile phone by her brothers a day before the incident after her old phone stopped working. Detailed statements of both brothers are being recorded.

Police said the student had scored 18 out of 35 in a recent test at the university and had told her father and brothers that she was unhappy with the marks.

Further investigation is under way, police said, adding that the final cause behind the suicide attempt would be determined soon.

The incident has renewed concerns over student safety, mental health and institutional responsibility, particularly as both recent cases involved students from the D-Pharmacy department.

Students expressed fear and anger over the repeated incidents and called for an independent inquiry. Many also demanded better mental health support, proper counselling services and stronger preventive measures on campus.

University officials said they are cooperating fully with law enforcement agencies and have shared all available records related to the student’s academic and campus activity. They added that internal reviews are also being conducted to assess safety standards in multi storey buildings and the overall support system available to students.

Mental health advocates said such incidents highlight the urgent need for accessible counselling services within educational institutions. They stressed that academic pressure, family issues, and emotional stress can combine in harmful ways if students do not have a safe space to seek help. Experts urged universities to establish confidential support channels and train staff to identify early warning signs.

As the investigation continues, students and parents alike are calling for transparency and accountability. Many say that while determining the cause of this incident is important, long term reforms are needed to ensure campuses remain safe and supportive environments for young people facing academic and personal challenges.

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University of Lahore

Student Safety

Campus Incident

Mental Health Awareness

Police Investigation

Higher Education

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