Suicide trend lose human capital in Gojal- Hunza

Suicide trend lose human capital in Gojal- Hunza

By Muhammad Panah. Hunza is considered an educated and moderate society in entire Gilgit-Baltistan; but factually it is still an absolute male dominant society just like other parts of Pakistan and the third world. The male dominating culture has been running for centuries in the entire region of Gilgit-Baltistan and women were pondered as an inferior segment of the society. The local conventions and tradition reflect that women were a symbol of keeping good relationships with other families and tribes through Islamic ways of marriage without taking their consent; they were not allowed to go out of home without the permission of their males. These were societal injustice, oppressing, and discriminative attitudes toward women, for that reason women were compelled to do suicide; they were jumped from high hills/rocks and threw themselves in the rivers, and consumed poisons. However, with time, gender discriminative approaches have begun to change to some extent from the area guidance of faith-based institutions, educational institutions, and other national and international development organizations' intervention. The suicidal cases were resolved by the former Hunza state court (Jirga) under the supervision of King/ Mir/ Theam/ with the consultation of his former state’s titleholders, “Wazir, Thrangpa, Woyam and Arbob”. It was the quickest decision platform for the public; there might be many loopholes in the decision but my favor goes to the quick decisions. In the meantime women, the suicide ratio is to some extent reduced in the region but unfortunately, the male youth suicide ratio is increasing drastically. Every year well educated, social activities and leaderships are committing suicide. It is a catastrophic fact that in three years 2014-2022, two females and ten male youths have suicide in a less populated region. Due to this chronic situation, parents are involved in mental trauma. The consistent losing precious lives in the region threatening while not identifying the reason(s) for suicide by the law enforcement agencies are the other frustrating challenges for the people. In the biggest human loss, not a single case is identified nor local government administration did not public their findings. Pending, hiding, or delaying factual reasons (s) for youth’s suicide may turn into problematic in the near; the recent suicide rate indicates that in the future there will be losses of human capital. - In 2014 two (22 to 24 years) male youths hanged themselves on a tree but the cause(s) of committing suicide still did not public! - In 2015 one (25) years male youth hanged himself on a tree but the cause(s) of committing suicide still did not public! - In 2015 one 25 years old woman hanged herself in the cattle- shade but the cause(s) of committing suicide still did not public! - In 2016 again 22 years boy suicide himself by using a revolver but the cause(s) of committing suicide still did not public! - In 2015 two boys died brutally but it is still unclear whether it is murder or suicide; people are suspicious about that losses, but the cause(s) of committing suicide still did not public! - In 2016 one young youth hanged himself at his home but the cause(s) of committing suicide still did not public! - In 2016 one young female hanged herself at her home but the cause(s) of committing suicide still did not public! - In 2020 a highly foreign qualified youth of the area committed suicide. - In 2021 Adiba’s death case went to court and different civil society activists brought it to national and international Media to give justice to her, her case is in the court trial, and hope people will know whether it is suicide or murder. - Recently Mr,Murad Khan a religious leader and social activist committed suicide in Chipuran valley, it is an irreparable loss to the community and the entire region. He has kept behind 10 minutes long audio/ video notes and explained his suicide-committing causes. Now it is the authentic evidence to the law and enforces agencies to go the root causes of the suicide; otherwise, it will become a just story of other valuable youth’s lives losses. These are the suicides information in the smallest population of Gilgit-Baltistan; the community losses human capital yearly through unethical ways. Now it is time to rethink to prevent these human losses; do we prevent these losses through big speeches by the time-framed leadership? Or find alternative ways to go at the roots causes of the human losses? Can we research to find the causes of suicide? If we find the factual data on suicide then can make a strategy to overcome this threat; without finding the root causes of it discussing in social media, blaming each other and giving big speeches in the public will remain wastage of time and losses of human capital.