Citizen wants court permission to consume poison, but says he won't die

Wants to conduct experiment at Mochi Gate

LAHORE (Dunya News) – The Lahore High Court reserved its verdict on maintainability of a petition after a citizen requested for granting permission to consume poison at a public place with an argument that he would not die even after using the toxic material. 

As the court heard one of the most bizarre cases ever surfacing in Pakistan, Sarwar Taj – who is a resident of Mozang, one of the congested neighbourhoods in the provincial capital – argued that he had [spiritual] knowledge and would consume poison after reciting Quranic verses. 

The response came as Justice Raheel Kamran asked him about the reasoning behind his intentions and remarked how the court could allow him to do so. 

When Justice Kamran observed that the proposed action was meant to get cheap publicity, the petitioner replied that it wasn’t his desire and he had complete faith in Almighty Allah. 

The learned judge observed that suicide was haram [forbidden] in Islam and he was seeking court permission for a haram act. 

But Taj claimed that he wanted to show the power of Quran to the world by experimenting act before public at Mochi Gate – an entrance to Lahore’s Walled City which is known for political gatherings of top politicians. 

At this, the court reminded the petitioner that the verdicts of India’s top court were available after citizens suffering from cancer sought authorisation for committing suicide. 

With the petitioner repeating his stance that he would remain safe, the court observed it could not allow an illegal act and he was free to do so; however, law would take its own course after that.

Taj argued that he had also requested the chief secretary for permission. However, the judge observed the petitioner was only wasting the court’s time.