KARACHI: Pakistani officials say a rickshaw driver who set himself on fire to protest police demands for bribes, has died of severe burns in Karachi.
Mohammad Khalid died on Monday morning, two days after setting himself on fire.
Khalid’s self-immolation — according to a letter featured on Pakistan’s Geo Television station — was an act of protest against police demands for bribes. Khalid reportedly refused to pay a bribe to an officer who then fined Khalid a ticket amounting to a quarter of his daily earnings.
Amir Ahmed Shaikh, the police chief in Karachi, said an investigation is underway.
Following the incident, Shaikh ordered the police not to impose heavy fines on rickshaw drivers for traffic violations in the city.
A rickshaw is a motorized three-wheeled vehicle usually carrying one passenger.
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Pakistani dies after immolation to protest police bribery
Pakistani dies after immolation to protest police bribery
- Mohammad Khalid died on Monday morning, two days after setting himself on fire
- Following the incident, Pakistani police chief ordered his men not to impose heavy fines on rickshaw drivers for traffic violations in the city
Ex-UK ambassador apologizes to Epstein victims
LONDON: Former British ambassador to Washington Peter Mandelson has offered an “unequivocal” apology to the victims of Jeffrey Epstein for his friendship with the late US sex offender.
Mandelson had faced criticism after failing to apologize in his first broadcast interview, which aired on Sunday, since he was fired as Britain’s top diplomat in Washington last September over the issue.
“I was wrong to believe him following his conviction and to continue my association with him afterwards,” Mandelson said in a statement released to the BBC’s Newsnight program late on Monday following the backlash.
“I apologize unequivocally for doing so to the women and girls who suffered.”
Prime Minister Keir Starmer sacked the ex-spin doctor and former government minister four months ago after emails emerged showing he had maintained contact with Epstein even after the American was convicted of child sex offenses in 2008.
In the interview aired on Sunday, Mandelson had said it was “misplaced loyalty” and “a most terrible mistake on my part.”
He also suggested Epstein excluded him from the “sexual side” of his life because he was gay.
Dubbed the “Prince of Darkness” during his years as a media adviser, Mandelson was twice forced to resign from Tony Blair’s Labour government in the late 1990s and early 2000s over allegations of misconduct.
Mandelson had faced criticism after failing to apologize in his first broadcast interview, which aired on Sunday, since he was fired as Britain’s top diplomat in Washington last September over the issue.
“I was wrong to believe him following his conviction and to continue my association with him afterwards,” Mandelson said in a statement released to the BBC’s Newsnight program late on Monday following the backlash.
“I apologize unequivocally for doing so to the women and girls who suffered.”
Prime Minister Keir Starmer sacked the ex-spin doctor and former government minister four months ago after emails emerged showing he had maintained contact with Epstein even after the American was convicted of child sex offenses in 2008.
In the interview aired on Sunday, Mandelson had said it was “misplaced loyalty” and “a most terrible mistake on my part.”
He also suggested Epstein excluded him from the “sexual side” of his life because he was gay.
Dubbed the “Prince of Darkness” during his years as a media adviser, Mandelson was twice forced to resign from Tony Blair’s Labour government in the late 1990s and early 2000s over allegations of misconduct.
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