MUZAFFARGARH: A man attempted suicide by jumping into a river after watching the video statement of imprisoned MNA Jamshed Dasti about alleged torture in the jail.

According to APP, a police official said Pathany Khan in sheer depression tried to end his life by jumping into the river after he watched the video of Dasti. However, the locals rescued him and immediately shifted him to hospital.

The video went viral on social media on Thursday in which Dasti pleaded for help through the grilled windows of a prison vehicle and complained that he was being tortured and maltreated in the prison.

Following the video being broadcast on television, Chief Justice Lahore High Court Syed Mansoor Ali Shah took notice of the MNA’s alleged torture.

The LHC chief justice has demanded a report on the matter from the sessions judge Sarghoda and the anti-terrorism court.

The chairman of the Pakistan Awami Raj party was imprisoned for allegedly instigating people to open the sluice gate at Kalu headworks channel to release water in Dinga minor, Muzaffargarh canal.

Speaking to the media outside an anti-terrorism court on Thursday Dasti claimed, he was being tortured and his barrack had scorpions crawling around. The MNA said he was beaten and had been deprived of food at the Multan Central Jail asking the chief justice of Pakistan to take notice of his ordeal.

A petition has also been filed in the Supreme Court by Advocate Zulfiqar Ahmed Bhutta seeking suo moto notice on the video of Jamshed Dasti. The petition seeks Dasti’s appearance in the apex court and a medical examination of the MNA.

Meanwhile, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan criticised the government for resorting to ‘dictatorial’ tactics in handling Dasti’s case saying, “Use of violence on Jamshed Dasti behind bars is atrocious and shameless.”