ISLAMABAD: Doctors from the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims) said on Monday that 23-year-old Umar Ejaz, who jumped from the Awami Markaz building to escape the fire was still in very critical condition and was being kept on a ventilator.

When the fire erupted on Sunday morning, Ali Raza and Umar Ejaz jumped from the building, while another young man, Waqar, stayed inside. The latter died of suffocation, and Ali Raza could not survive either. Mr Ejaz was initially shifted to Polyclinic and later brought to Pims.

`The patient was in very critical condition with a head injury, abdominal injuries and a number of fractures. He has been placed on the ventilator,` Dr Akram said.

The ventilator mechanically moves breatheable air in and out of the lungs, helping patients who are physically unable to breathe. They are mostly used in intensive care units. Ikram Junaidi