<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<rss xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/" xmlns:wfw="http://wellformedweb.org/CommentAPI/" xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" xmlns:sy="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/syndication/" xmlns:slash="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/slash/" version="2.0"><channel>
                        <title>The Express Tribune</title>
                        <atom:link href="https://tribune.com.pk/feed/acidattack" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml"/>
                        <link>https://tribune.com.pk/feed/acidattack</link>
                        <description>The Express Tribune keeps you up to date with all the latest happenings from Pakistan and across the world!</description>
                        <lastBuildDate>Sun, 31 May 26 18:30:03 +0500</lastBuildDate>
                        <language>en-US</language>
                        <sy:updatePeriod>hourly</sy:updatePeriod>
                        <sy:updateFrequency>1</sy:updateFrequency>
                        <generator>https://laravel.com/</generator><item>
			<title>Malaysia footballer badly hurt in acid attack pledges to play again</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2471621/malaysia-footballer-badly-hurt-in-acid-attack-pledges-to-play-again</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2471621/malaysia-footballer-badly-hurt-in-acid-attack-pledges-to-play-again#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Fri, 14 Jun 24 06:05:34 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[AFP]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Sports]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2471621</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Tearful winger says 'I miss football&quot;]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[A Malaysian international badly hurt in an acid attack in May broke down in tears on Thursday as he pledged to return to football in &quot;one to two months&quot;.

Selangor FC winger Faisal Halim suffered fourth-degree burns on his neck, shoulder, hands and chest in the attack at a shopping centre outside Kuala Lumpur on May 5.

Nicknamed &quot;Mickey&quot;, the popular 26-year-old spent three weeks in hospital and had multiple surgeries for the burns to his skin.

Speaking to journalists for the first time since the ordeal, a tearful Faisal said: &quot;My hope is to return to the pitch in the next one to two months, even though the doctor says it could take up to six months.&quot;

He added: &quot;I am willing to return to training when doctors give me the green light.&quot;

Scars were visible on the left side of his head and face. He also appeared underweight and his physical movements seemed slower.

A dozen burly bodyguards wearing black escorted the player into the press conference.

Faisal did not explain why, but said that &quot;right now I am kept in a secret hideout&quot; with his family, expressing hope &quot;I can soon be free and no need to hide&quot;.

Two people were arrested after the attack but both were released without any charge. It is unclear what was behind the assault.

Faisal&#39;s case was the most serious and high-profile of a string of crimes against four top-flight Malaysian footballers in May.

The incidents are not believed to be linked.

Faisal is an established Malaysian international whose equaliser against South Korea at the start of the year was voted best goal at the Asian Cup.

&quot;I miss football,&quot; added Faisal.

Malaysia&#39;s domestic football season was scheduled to begin on May 10 with a curtain-raiser between Faisal&#39;s Selangor and Super League champions Johor Darul Ta&#39;zim (JDT).

Selangor pulled out citing &quot;a series of criminal incidents and recent threats&quot;, but the league got under way the following day under heavy security.]]>
			</content:encoded>
			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/IMG_25831718345177-0/IMG_25831718345177-0.jpeg" class="featured_image"/>
            </image>
			</item><item>
			<title>Three siblings injured in acid attack in Faisalabad</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2284714/three-siblings-injured-in-acid-attack-in-faisalabad</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2284714/three-siblings-injured-in-acid-attack-in-faisalabad#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Thu, 18 Feb 21 04:44:07 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Our Correspondent]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category><category><![CDATA[Punjab]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2284714</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Victims were assaulted by unidentified men who threw chemical on them during their sleep]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[Three siblings were allegedly attacked with acid in their house in Khurrianwala, Faisalabad on Wednesday.

Police said unidentified men entered the house and threw acid on the three siblings which resulted in them sustaining serious burn injuries.

Rescue 1122 teams rushed the victims to the hospital. Rail Bazaar police reached the spot and started a search operation to arrest the suspects.

Reportedly, the unidentified attackers entered the house of Tanveer Ahmed, a resident of Karkhana Bazaar, Darmanwali Street, from the roof and threw acid an 18-year-old girl, a 15-year-old girl and an 11-year-old boy, all three siblings, who were sleeping in a room.

The attack resulted in the siblings sustaining serious burns on their body. Rescue 1122 personnel rushed them to Allied Hospital Faisalabad after providing on the spot medical assistance.

Read more:&nbsp;Plea seeks curbs on open sale of acid

&nbsp;Upon receiving information, police officers rushed to the spot and started investigation into the matter. According to Rail Bazaar SHO Sub-Inspector Musawar Ahmed, all routes to the roof of the house were closed.

Unidentified assailants entered through the roof who threw acid on the three siblings who were sleeping on the top floor and fled, he added.

&ldquo;One of the victim continued to teach her younger brother, a fifth class student, late at night due to his exam on the next day. The siblings then slept on the same top floor.&rdquo;

The 18-year-old victim was going to get married a week later. The acid attack burned her eyes while it fell on the faces and body parts of the other two victims who were being treated at said hospital, he stated. &ldquo;Action is being taken to arrest the suspects and bring them to justice.&rdquo;]]>
			</content:encoded>
			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/556719-acid-1369949511/556719-acid-1369949511.jpg" class="featured_image"/>
            </image>
			</item><item>
			<title>Russian tourist scalded in India acid attack: police</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/990693/russian-tourist-scalded-in-india-acid-attack-police</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/990693/russian-tourist-scalded-in-india-acid-attack-police#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Fri, 13 Nov 15 09:46:47 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[afp]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[World]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=990693</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Darya Yurieva rushed to hospital after landlord's son's attack on her in a homestay accommodation]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[A 23-year-old Russian suffered severe burns in an acid attack Friday while she was sleeping in the Indian holy city of Varanasi, the latest in a series of attacks on women tourists.

Darya Yurieva, who had been in India for about four months, was rushed to hospital after her landlord's son allegedly attacked her in a homestay accommodation, according to police in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh.

Acid throwing most rampant in S Punjab

"He threw a bottle of acid on her early on Friday morning while she was still asleep," Daljeet Chaudhary, additional director general of police, told AFP.

"The accused will be nabbed soon," Chaudhary said, adding the suspect had been on the run since the attack.

Friday's attack is the latest in a series reported by foreign women visiting India.

Girl, 13, beheads her rapist's 5-year-old son as 'revenge' in India

An American tourist had accused two men of raping her in the popular Himalayan hill station of Dharamsala in northern India in September.

In February, a Japanese woman accused a tour guide of drugging and raping her in the historic city of Jaipur.

Attacks on women have been on the rise in India with 132,000 cases of sexual offences against women in 2014, and some 12,400 in Uttar Pradesh alone, according to official figures.

There were more than 300 acid attacks last year, the Indian Express newspaper reported in April based on provisional data from India's National Crime Records Bureau.

Delhi court finds Uber driver guilty of rape

But experts say those figures are likely to represent only the tip of the iceberg, leaving scores of acid attack survivors who face lifelong scars and social stigma.

The Supreme Court has repeatedly warned state authorities to enforce restrictions on the sale of acid, but campaigners say it remains easy to purchase and inexpensive.]]>
			</content:encoded>
			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/990693-acid-1447407825/990693-acid-1447407825.jpg" class="featured_image"/>
            </image>
			</item><item>
			<title>'Fear they will find me': death threats stalk Afghan acid victim</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/907707/fear-they-will-find-me-death-threats-stalk-afghan-acid-victim</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/907707/fear-they-will-find-me-death-threats-stalk-afghan-acid-victim#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Mon, 22 Jun 15 04:24:09 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[afp]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[World]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=907707</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Mumtaz remembers screaming and writhing as the acid burned through her flesh]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[Four years after a militiaman doused Mumtaz with a flesh-searing acid for rejecting his marriage proposal, leaving her disfigured, scarred and traumatised, death threats have forced the 20-year-old Afghan into hiding.

Her ordeal encapsulates the major issues roiling Afghanistan — a silent tsunami of violence against women, anti-Taliban militias bringing further turmoil to an already conflict-torn country and a seemingly dysfunctional state unable to offer Afghans even a modicum of security.

Swaddled in a cobalt blue scarf partly covering her jagged facial scars, Mumtaz vividly recalls the horrors of that night when the jilted lover stormed into her house with six other assailants, holding up the corrosive liquid.

"He grabbed me by my hair and hurled the acid at my face with such vengeance, as if to say 'now let's see who will marry you'," Mumtaz, who goes by one name, told AFP in a safe house in the volatile northern province of Kunduz.

Read: Heinous crime: Woman attacked with acid

She remembers screaming and writhing as the acid, some of which splattered on her sisters and mother, burned through her flesh.

Mumtaz has undergone multiple surgeries and painful skin grafts since the attack in 2011 — and is now forced to live in hiding due to threats purportedly from the assailants, some of whom are still at large.

Her plight is worsened by an escalating conflict in Kunduz, where the Taliban recently launched a large-scale offensive, creeping ever closer to the provincial capital and trapping civilians between insurgents and a miscellany of pro-government forces and militias.

Statistics are scant but acid attacks are common in Afghanistan, often used to deface and cripple women even for minor transgressions such as refusing to wear a head scarf or rebuffing unsolicited lovers.

When she was 14, Mumtaz, known within her extended family for her doe eyes and flawless skin, hid herself behind the folds of a burqa to evade the amorous advances of a militiaman called Nasir.

The daughter of a wheat farmer stopped going out unchaperoned and avoided the main village thoroughfares.

But Nasir, who gained local infamy for his links to an anti-Taliban militia, stubbornly lingered outside her house and waylaid her even as her family in a heated exchange warned him to back down.

Two years later, when Mumtaz got engaged to another man, he burst into her house to avenge the humiliation of rejection by wrecking her beauty.

He escaped after the horrific attack but a court sentenced three of his accomplices to a decade in prison, a rare judgement in a nation that offers female victims little legal recourse.

Ironically, though, Mumtaz's real troubles began when they were put behind bars.

Read: Heinous crime: Four injured in acid attack

"They threatened to behead me. 'We will kill your whole family when we get out of prison', they said. 'We will come after you'," Mumtaz said.

Armed intruders have attempted to break into her house, said Women for Afghan Women (WAW), a nongovernmental organisation which helped Mumtaz with legal aid and seeking treatment for acid burns in India.

"We are very concerned about her safety," Haseena Sarwari, the Kunduz manager for WAW, told AFP.

"The men in Mumtaz's household are forced to carry firearms and take turns to sleep at night," she said, clarifying that the motive of those intruders was not always clear as cracks of mock gunfire from inside were enough to deter them.

Mumtaz's father, Sultan, said the attempted intrusions forced them to move houses but going to his farm was fraught with risks.

Relatives of the jailed assailants have chased him down by motorcycle, threatening him with consequences if they did not get out of prison soon.

"They will never leave us alone," Sultan said with a lump in his throat.

The attack on his daughter makes him writhe with fury but also shudder with fear.

"We are barely living, confined to our home, stripped of our livelihood," he said. "It's a helpless feeling."

AFP could not access the families of the assailants, residing in an outlying village of Kunduz city that has seen regular skirmishes between insurgents and militias.

Read: Justice served: Acid attacker awarded life sentence

In recent years Afghanistan has seen a rise of militias, former mujahideen strongmen both feeding off and fuelling the conflict, and accused of a litany of abuses including rape and forcibly collecting "protection tax" from civilians.

When he came to power last year President Ashraf Ghani vowed to disarm the militias, blamed for devastating Afghanistan during the country's civil war in the 1990s and setting the stage for a Taliban takeover.

But as the Taliban insurgency spreads north from its southern stronghold, the government appears to be remobilising them to augment Afghan security forces.

"The predatory behaviour of these militias, and abuses that include extrajudicial killings, beatings, and looting, have left civilians trapped between them and the Taliban and has bolstered some support for the insurgents," Patricia Gossman of Human Rights Watch said in a recent statement.

"But the Afghan government is again reactivating militias that threaten the lives of ordinary Afghans. If there is to be any hope of a long-term security in Kunduz — and across Afghanistan — this reliance on abusive militias has to end."

Earlier this year Mumtaz married the man she was engaged to, bringing a faint glimmer of hope in her life.

"But I live in constant fear that they (the assailants) will find me one day."]]>
			</content:encoded>
			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/907707-image-1434958948/907707-image-1434958948.jpg" class="featured_image"/>
            </image>
			</item><item>
			<title>Attack by acid</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/739496/attack-by-acid</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/739496/attack-by-acid#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Tue, 22 Jul 14 19:05:55 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[editorial]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Balochistan]]></category><category><![CDATA[Editorial]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=739496</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[The six victims luckily escaped the physical scars, but emotional ones they have suffered will stay with them for life]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[The spraying of acid on four women at a bazaar on the outskirts of Quetta on July 21, followed by a similar one on two women in Mastung, did not fit the usual profile. Acid attacks, the number of which has been rising in the country are generally intended to settle a personal dispute or some petty score, often over matrimonial matters. In this case the victims say they had no enmity and cannot identify the men on motorcycles who drove by, spraying them with acid from the syringes they wielded. The four women, currently being treated at hospitals were lucky: the victim who was worst hit was affected across 11 per cent of her body, like her companions suffered grade two burns and doctors are confident they will leave no scars.



This, though, is besides the point. The malevolent attack was obviously not without motive, and was intended to terrorise — whether just the women or the population of Quetta in general. A similar attack had been carried out in 2011 against teachers in the Quetta area. The police are looking into the possibility of the involvement of extremist groups who may wish to send out a message to women to remain out of public life. This, though, for now is mere conjecture. There is no way of saying why these particular women, outside a jewellery store, were picked out in a bazaar where there were a large number of women present. The key requirement is that the incident be investigated in detail. Even if the injuries were relatively minor, acid attacks are terrifying. Undoubtedly, this one will create a sense of panic. It is vital then that the culprits be apprehended and brought to justice.

The fact that this happens far too rarely, with most perpetrators of such crime able to escape scot-free can only encourage others to carry out similar attacks with each year leaving dozens of women scarred and maimed. This is an unacceptable situation which needs the full attention of the police so that other attacks as horrendous as the one that occurred in Quetta can be stopped. The six victims can be considered fortunate to escape physical scars. But the emotional ones they have suffered will stay with them for life, haunting them forever.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 23rd, 2014.

Like Opinion &amp; Editorial on Facebook, follow @ETOpEd on Twitter to receive all updates on all our daily pieces.]]>
			</content:encoded>
			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/739496-Acidattackx-1406055876/739496-Acidattackx-1406055876.jpg" class="featured_image"/>
            </image>
			</item><item>
			<title>‘Honour’ crime: Man thrown acid at ‘by in-laws’</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/583152/honour-crime-man-thrown-acid-at-by-in-laws</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/583152/honour-crime-man-thrown-acid-at-by-in-laws#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sun, 28 Jul 13 20:53:05 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[owais.jafri]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Punjab]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=583152</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[They had demanded that he, his parents apologise for an earlier argument.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[A 24-year-old man in Jatoi, Muzaffargarh, was thrown acid at on Sunday allegedly by his in-laws for not making up with his wife, who had left his house following a quarrel.

The injured was taken to Nishtar Hospital, where doctors treating him said that his condition was critical.

Baitmeera Hazaar police have registered a case against the victim’s wife, mother-in-law and their three relatives nominated by the victim’s father, Hazoor Bakhsh. No one has been arrested.



Police said Muhammad Liaqat, a resident of Baitmeera Hazaar, had married Sumaira Bibi a year ago. Two weeks ago, they quarrelled and she left home and returned to her parents’ house. Police said some neighbours said that she and her mother-in-law did not get along well.

Police said Sumaria Bibi’s parents had demanded that Liaqat and his parents visit their house and apologise for “insulting their daughter”. Liaqat and his parents had refused to do so.

Liaqat’s brother, Muhammad Jafar, said on Sunday, his mother-in-law Fatima Bibi and three men entered their house and beat Liaqat up. They later threw a jug full of acid at him.

Jafar said he heard his brother scream for help. He said he saw the assailants flee as he entered Liaqat’s room.

Liaqat was taken to the hospital, where he was reported to be in critical condition. Doctors treating him said that he had 60 per cent burns.

Jafar claimed that some of Sumaira Bibi’s relatives had earlier made threatening calls to them “for throwing her out of the house”.

He said Liaqat had visited her parents’ house to bring her back, but they had told him to leave and that he should bring his parents along.

Police said they were investigating.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 29th, 2013.]]>
			</content:encoded>
			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/583152-acid-1375044721/583152-acid-1375044721.jpg" class="featured_image"/>
            </image>
			</item><item>
			<title>A jug of acid: Man burnt on 60% of body after attack by in-laws</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/583085/a-jug-of-acid-man-burnt-on-60-of-body-after-attack-by-in-laws</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/583085/a-jug-of-acid-man-burnt-on-60-of-body-after-attack-by-in-laws#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sun, 28 Jul 13 16:31:30 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[owais.jafri]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=583085</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Domestic broil sees 24-year-old Liaqat punished for not taking his wife back.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[A 24 year-old man was burnt with acid in Muzaffargarh by his in-laws for not coming back for his wife after she ran away to her home following an argument. 

The victim was shifted to a burn unit in Nishtar Hospital, Multan, where his condition is reported to be extremely critical.

Doctors told The Express Tribune that 60% of the body was burnt.

According to the details, 24-year-old Liaqat was sleeping at his residence in the rural vicinity Bait Mir Hazar of sub-district Jatoi in Muzaffargarh when he was attacked by his mother in-law Fatima bibi and four companions.

They grabbed the victim, beat him, and then threw a jug of acid, claiming revenge over the issue of "honour".

Liaqat's cries awoke his younger broth Jaffar, who first ran after the criminals but then left them to help other residents carry his brother to DHQ Hospital, Muzaffargarh.

Seeing his critical condition, the doctors at DHQ Muzaffargarh referred the victim to Nishtar Hospital, Multan.

Jaffar stated that Liaqat's wife Sumaira had a fight about a week ago with Liaqat's parents and had gone to her parents' house after the fight. Sumaira and her parents insisted that the wife would only return if all of Liaqat's family came to her residence and ask for forgiveness from her.

Liaqat and his family refused to do so. His father Hazoor Baksh, told The Express Tribune that his daughter in-law used to quarrel over small issues and that Liaqat's family was not at fault here. Baksh claimed Sumaira treated her in-laws like "servants".

The police station at Bait Mir Hazar lodged an FIR against five nominated criminals including the mother in-law Fatima bibi, wife Sumaira and her three cousins Abdul Ghafaar, Muhammad Sajid and Haq Nawaz.

The victim's brother Jaffar further informed The Express Tribune that his family had received death threats prior to the incident for having "defamed" Sumaira's family.

So far, the police have not made any arrests, but sources said that they had traced Fatima and Sumaira and will arrest them soon.]]>
			</content:encoded>
			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/583085-acidattackburnAFP-1375029006/583085-acidattackburnAFP-1375029006.jpg" class="featured_image"/>
            </image>
			</item><item>
			<title>Thin blood: Man thrown acid at ‘by father’</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/581496/thin-blood-man-thrown-acid-at-by-father</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/581496/thin-blood-man-thrown-acid-at-by-father#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Thu, 25 Jul 13 06:11:10 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[shamsul.islam]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=581496</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[He had asked his father to return the gold and wheat he had kept with him.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[A man was thrown acid at allegedly by his father and brother in Chiniot on Wednesday when he asked them to return the valuables that he had handed them for safekeeping.


The injured was taken to the district headquarters hospital, where he was reported to be in critical condition.

Rajua police said Muhammad Afzal, a resident of Chak Babar, had given 150 grams of gold and several sacks of wheat to his father, Sher Muhammad, two weeks ago.

However, on Wednesday when Afzal asked him to return the valuables, Muhammad refused to. They said he sent him back saying that he had spent all his life’s earning on his children and that it was time for them to pay back.

This led to an argument and Muhammad called his other son, Muhammad Ashraf, and together they beat up Afzal.

They also threw acid at Afzal and fled. Afzal’s wife and mother informed the police. Afzal was taken to the DHQ hospital, where doctors said that he had 60 per cent burns.

Some neighbours, who helped take Afzal to the hospital said they rushed to the house when Afzal’s wife and children jumped onto the roofs of the adjacent houses and shouted for help.

They said Muhammad and Ashraf had locked the door and for a while did not let anyone in.

A few minutes later, they said, Muhammad and Ashraf opened the door and fled, threatening the neighbours with death if someone informed the police.

Afzal’s wife told police that her father-in-law had already deprived Afzal of some of the land he had inherited after an altercation a few months ago. She said she had warned her husband not to trust his father with his assets.

Some relatives of the family who talk to The Express Tribune said that Afzal’s father was a coldblooded person and had never been kind to his sons, especially Afzal. They said he had thrown him out of his house several times in disputes over money. Every time, they said, his wife and mother would mediate and resolve the differences.

Station House Officer Ghulam Murtaza said an FIR had been registered. He said a police team was looking for the suspects.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 25th, 2013.]]>
			</content:encoded>
			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/581496-acid-1374732563/581496-acid-1374732563.jpg" class="featured_image"/>
            </image>
			</item><item>
			<title>Justice delayed: ‘Two months on, acid attackers still at large’</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/579629/justice-delayed-two-months-on-acid-attackers-still-at-large</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/579629/justice-delayed-two-months-on-acid-attackers-still-at-large#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sun, 21 Jul 13 06:14:34 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Kashif Zafar]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=579629</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Police say they are looking for the four assailants; the victim is being treated at Bahawal Victoria Hospital’.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[While the victim of an acid attack two months ago has been undergoing treatment at Bahawal Victoria Hospital’s Plastic Surgery Ward his assailants have been at large, Muhammad Ajmal, the victim’s brother, told The Express Tribune on Saturday. 


He said that his brother Ghulam Mustafa, a resident of Ghulam Ali Channar village, and father of six children kept pigeons at his house.

Around two months ago, one of his pigeons went and sat on his neighbour Allah Diwaya’s roof. Ajmal said that Mustafa threw a stone to make it fly, but the stone hit Diwaya’s daughter.

Diwaya, his son Aslam and son-in-law Khizar Hayaat entered Mustafa’s house and threw acid on him. Mustafa’s face, hands, legs and the torso were badly burnt in the assault.

Hearing his screams, several neighbours came over and called the police.

A case was registered at Naushera Jadeed police station under Sections 324 and 34 (attempted murder by several people) on Mustafa’s statement. He nominated four people in the FIR and requested prosecution under Section 7 of the Anti-Terrorism Act 1997 [punishment for acts of terrorism].



Ajmal said that a former district council member influenced the police not allowing them to register a case under the Anti-Terrorism Act.

“My brother is fighting for his life, he is completely burnt and is given food through a pipe,” said Ajmal.

“His eyes and ears have sloughed off,” he added.

Naushera Jadeed Sub Inspector Pir Baksh told The Express Tribune they were looking for the suspects.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 21st, 2013.]]>
			</content:encoded>
			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/579629-acidattack-1374387122/579629-acidattack-1374387122.jpg" class="featured_image"/>
            </image>
			</item><item>
			<title>Heinous crime: LHC seeks report into acid attack</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/578884/heinous-crime-lhc-seeks-report-into-acid-attack</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/578884/heinous-crime-lhc-seeks-report-into-acid-attack#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Thu, 18 Jul 13 19:01:29 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[our.correspondent]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=578884</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Doctors said that the attackers had used almost a litre of acid.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[The Lahore High Court has sought a report from the Muzaffargarh district and sessions judge into an acid attack on a man in Saranwala village. According to press reports, Muhammad Abdur Rauf, a resident of Gujrat Colony in Kot Addu, was attacked when he went to visit a woman in the village. Brothers Tariq and Munir, the woman’s neighbours, and three unidentified men allegedly took him to a house where they poured acid over him. Doctors said that the attackers had used almost a litre of acid, leaving Rauf with burns to more than 50 per cent of his body. His eyes and face were badly affected. Police have arrested Munir while the other suspects are still at large. The LHC complaint cell took notice of the press report and directed the Muzaffargarh judge to investigate the matter and submit a detailed report within a week.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 19th, 2013.]]>
			</content:encoded>
			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/578884-Newsinbriefx-1374170437/578884-Newsinbriefx-1374170437.JPG" class="featured_image"/>
            </image>
			</item><item>
			<title>Nabbed: Police arrest acid attack suspect</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/577371/nabbed-police-arrest-acid-attack-suspect</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/577371/nabbed-police-arrest-acid-attack-suspect#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Wed, 17 Jul 13 03:00:17 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[our.correspondent]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=577371</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[The victim sustained minor burn injuries and was discharged after being given first aid.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[The police arrested Kamran, the man accused of throwing acid on his aunt, on Monday. 

The investigation officer, Nazeer Hussain, said that Kamran was arrested from Frere police limits on a tip off and has confessed to the crime.

Sources privy to the development told The Express Tribune that Kamran turned himself in on the advice of his elders so that the matter could be resolved.

The accused had attacked his 40-year-old aunt T* over a family dispute on Sunday.

The victim sustained minor burn injuries and was discharged after being given first aid.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 16th, 2013.]]>
			</content:encoded>
			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/577371-Newsinbriefx-1373910697/577371-Newsinbriefx-1373910697.JPG" class="featured_image"/>
            </image>
			</item><item>
			<title>Domestic violence: Three injured in acid attack over marital dispute</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/577818/domestic-violence-three-injured-in-acid-attack-over-marital-dispute</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/577818/domestic-violence-three-injured-in-acid-attack-over-marital-dispute#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Tue, 16 Jul 13 19:04:36 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[our.correspondent]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=577818</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Woman left in-laws after being repeatedly subjected to physical abuse.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[Three family members, including two women, were severely injured and burnt in an acid attack in Balakot on Tuesday, said the police.

Haroon, a resident of Khet Frash village, told the police his daughter, Sumaira Bibi, 21, was targeted by her husband Muhammad Arif and his four brothers after she left him.

Haroon said Sumaira often complained about her relationship with her husband, claiming she was repeatedly physically abused by her in-laws who ill-treated her over petty domestic issues.



Speaking to journalists, Haroon said he had advised his daughter to settle matters on her own. However, the assaults sustained by Sumaira soon became unbearable and she left her in-laws and came home to her parents’ house a few days ago after being beaten by her husband and mother-in-law.

Haroon claimed Arif and his brothers barged into their residence on Tuesday and thrashed Sumaira, her mother Atar Jan, and brother Sajawal using rifle butts. Following this, the accused threw acid on the victims and fled, added Haroon.

Locals shifted the wounded to Mansehra Hospital where Atar Jan is said be in critical condition. A case has been registered against Arif and his brothers, but no arrests were made till the filing of this report.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 17th, 2013.]]>
			</content:encoded>
			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/577818-Acidattack-1374001454/577818-Acidattack-1374001454.jpg" class="featured_image"/>
            </image>
			</item><item>
			<title>Violence against women: Man confesses to throwing acid on wife</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/576902/violence-against-women-man-confesses-to-throwing-acid-on-wife</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/576902/violence-against-women-man-confesses-to-throwing-acid-on-wife#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sun, 14 Jul 13 19:24:47 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Kashif Zafar]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=576902</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Syeda has sustained 45 per cent burns to her face and upper body.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[A woman was severely burnt in an acid attack by her husband in Khanpur on Saturday.


The woman’s father, *Ghulam Yaseen, a resident of Mohalla Azeem Shah, told The Express Tribune that his daughter, *Syeda Bibi, 22, had married *Muhammad Shahzad, a resident of Makhan Bela, a year and a half ago.



He said the couple had been quarrelling for the past six months. Last week, he said, Syeda left home for her parents’ house after a fight with Shahzad.

“Shahzad did not take this well… On Saturday night, he broke into our house, threw acid on Syeda and fled,” he said.

“She was badly burnt…we took her to Shaikh Zayed Hospital,” he added.

Dr Naeem Mirza at the hospital’s emergency ward told The Express Tribune that Syeda had sustained 45 per cent burns to her face and upper body and that her condition was critical.

Khanpur City police Investigation Officer Mazhar Hussain, said Shahzad had been arrested on Sunday on the complaint of the victim’s father. He said a case had been registered under Section 336B(1) of the Penal Code of Pakistan (Control and Acid Crime Prevention Bill ) which sets out punishment for hurting someone using dangerous substances.

Hussain said Shahzad had confessed to throwing acid on his wife.

He said, Shahzad told police that he had gone to his in-laws on Saturday to take his wife home. When she refused, he said, he felt disgraced and attacked her.

*Tasleem Bibi, the victim’s mother, said Shahzad had beaten up Syeda several times.

Muhammad Ajmal, a neighbour, who helped take Syeda to Shaikh Zayed hospital in Rahim Yar Khan, said that Shahzad was a drug addict and a habitual gambler.

*names have been changed to protect identities

Published in The Express Tribune, July 15th, 2013.]]>
			</content:encoded>
			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/576902-acidattack-1373829772/576902-acidattack-1373829772.jpg" class="featured_image"/>
            </image>
			</item><item>
			<title>Acid attack: Man booked for attacking aunt</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/576894/acid-attack-man-booked-for-attacking-aunt</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/576894/acid-attack-man-booked-for-attacking-aunt#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sun, 14 Jul 13 17:24:15 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[our.correspondent]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=576894</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[A case has been registered by the woman’s husband while further investigation was underway, says police.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[Police booked a young man for throwing acid on his aunt over a domestic dispute. The victim, 40-year-old T*, was taken to Civil hospital’s burns ward where the doctors said that the woman sustained minor burn injuries on her right hand and abdomen and was discharged after treatment. Inspector Nazeer Hussain, the investigation officer, said that Kamran, a cable operator, was a nephew of the woman’s husband, Abdul Rasheed. The family, he said, lived in a very small house in a slum near Punjab Colony and the incident occurred when the family had a quarrel over some domestic issue. A case has been registered by the woman’s husband while further investigation was underway, he added.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 15th, 2013.]]>
			</content:encoded>
			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/576894-Newsinbriefx-1373822153/576894-Newsinbriefx-1373822153.JPG" class="featured_image"/>
            </image>
			</item><item>
			<title>Did you know?: Saving Face nominated for five Emmys!</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/576053/did-you-know-saving-face-nominated-for-five-emmys</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/576053/did-you-know-saving-face-nominated-for-five-emmys#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Fri, 12 Jul 13 14:12:06 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=576053</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[The excellent work done by Obaid-Chinoy and her team proved itself once again.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[After winning an Academy Award in 2012, Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy’s Saving Face was broadcasted internationally beginning with HBO in North America. The documentary film has now received five nominations for the 34th Annual News &amp; Documentary Emmy Awards in the following categories:

Best Documentary

Outstanding Editing Documentary and Long Form

Outstanding Science and Technology Programming

Outstanding Cinematography Documentary and Long Form

Outstanding Research



The documentary film is about horrific acid violence and its traumatic affects on victims. The story follows the lives of two survivors, Zakia and Rukhsana, and their attempt to bring their assailants to justice. These women are helped by NGOs and doctors, including plastic surgeon Dr Mohammad Jawad, who returns to Pakistan from London to help.

The excellent work done by Obaid-Chinoy and her team proved itself once again. We’d like to congratulate the team of Saving Face for their hard work and for making Pakistan feel proud. The 34th annual News and Documentary Emmy Awards will be presented on October 1 in New York.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 13th, 2013.

Like Life &amp; Style on Facebook, follow @ETLifeandStyle on Twitter for the latest in fashion, gossip and entertainment.]]>
			</content:encoded>
			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/576053-Obaid-1373636700/576053-Obaid-1373636700.jpg" class="featured_image"/>
            </image>
			</item><item>
			<title>Acid attack: LHC seeks report from Mianwali sessions judge</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/574908/acid-attack-lhc-seeks-report-from-mianwali-sessions-judge</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/574908/acid-attack-lhc-seeks-report-from-mianwali-sessions-judge#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Tue, 09 Jul 13 21:09:44 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[our.correspondent]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=574908</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[The family says that the police had refused to register a case until they staged a demonstration at the police station]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[The Lahore High Court has instructed the Mianwali district and sessions judge to investigate a reported sexual assault and acid attack on an elderly woman in Wan Bachran, the LHC Complaint Cell said on Tuesday.


According to press reports, the 65-year-old woman had gone to see a quack who ran a pain relief clinic at Lorry Adda.

He allegedly tied her up and sexually assaulted her, threw acid on her back and fled. Her husband and son broke into the room and took her to the hospital, where doctors said that 50 per cent of her back had been burned.

The family said that the police had refused to register a case until they staged a demonstration at the police station.

The LHC has instructed the Mianwali district and sessions judge to investigate and to submit a report on the steps taken by the police along with his own findings in one week.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 10th, 2013.]]>
			</content:encoded>
			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/574908-acidattack-1373404109/574908-acidattack-1373404109.jpg" class="featured_image"/>
            </image>
			</item><item>
			<title>Exchange marriages: Woman burnt with acid dies</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/568874/exchange-marriages-woman-burnt-with-acid-dies</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/568874/exchange-marriages-woman-burnt-with-acid-dies#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Thu, 27 Jun 13 00:28:48 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[owais.jafri]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=568874</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[She had been under pressure to persuade her parents to marry her brother to her sister-in-law.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[A woman, attacked with acid by her in-laws on Tuesday, succumbed to her injuries at a hospital on Wednesday.


Her brother-in-law, the prime suspect, was arrested shortly after her death. Her husband and mother-in-law have been in police custody since the incident.

A case was registered against the woman’s brother-in-law, Din Muhammad, on the complaint of her parents.

Police quoted the complainants as saying that Shamim Bibi, 20, a resident of Jalalpur Pirwala, married Muhammad Yar, 23, in 2012. They said at the time of their marriage, her parents had promised to get their son married to Muhammad Yar’s sister. However, after a few months, they back out of the commitment saying they were not happy with the way their daughter was treated.



They said Muhammad Yar’s parents had started pressing her to convince her parents for the marriage.

They said Shamim Bibi’s mother-in-law and her brother-in-law had beaten her several times due to which she returned to her parents’ house.

On Tuesday, police said, Din Muhammad and his mother visited her parents’ house to take her back.

There, they said, an argument started between the two families after Shamim Bibi’s parents complained about the way their daughter was treated at her in-laws’ house and refused to let her go.



Din Muhammad and his mother had left at that time, but he retuned an hour later with a plastic jar in his hands. He asked for Shamin Bibi and threw acid at her as soon as she stepped out to talk to him.

She was rushed to Nishtar Hospital, where she remained in intensive care before she passed away on Wednesday. Doctors treating her had said she had lost her vision and had 80 per cent burns.

Shamim Bibi’s husband and mother-in-law were arrested shortly after the incident. Din Muhammad was missing, police said.

City Police Office Ghulam Muhammad Dogar had ordered the police to arrest Din Muhammad in 24 hour. Police said he was arrested while trying to escape towards Sindh. The CPO said a murder charge had been added to the FIR registered on Tuesday.

The body was handed over to the parents after a post-mortem examination.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 27th, 2013.]]>
			</content:encoded>
			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/568874-acidattack-1372292816/568874-acidattack-1372292816.jpg" class="featured_image"/>
            </image>
			</item><item>
			<title>Unrequited love?: Actress suffers burn injuries in acid attack</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/567098/unrequited-love-actress-suffers-burn-injuries-in-acid-attack</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/567098/unrequited-love-actress-suffers-burn-injuries-in-acid-attack#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sun, 23 Jun 13 06:07:33 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[our.correspondent]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=567098</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Pashto stage actor and singer Bushra allegedly attacked by producer Shaukat.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[It was only a day ago that Bushra had a beautiful face and dreams of a future. Little did she know, as she went to sleep, that she would wake up in the worst way possible. With a single splash of acid on her, a man caused excruciating acid burn injuries and shattered her hopes. This stage actress and singer of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is struggling with the wounds. And acid continues to be sold openly for as less as Rs20 in bazaars.


According to Ijaz Khan, SHO Pabbi police station, Shameem, a resident of the Khudrizai area, reported that she was sleeping at her house along with her son and her daughter Bushra, when Shaukat allegedly barged into their house and threw acid on her daughter. As a result, her daughter received severe burn injuries.

An official of the Lady Reading Hospital told The Express Tribune that they have provided initial treatment to the victim, saying she has suffered around 33 per cent burn injuries on her face and shoulder but her condition is stable. He further said they referred her to the Khyber Teaching Hospital. Another official on condition of anonymity said that she has been discharged after treatment.

The alleged perpetrator is a Pashto drama producer. Over a money row, he allegedly threw acid on Bushra in the wee hours of Saturday, in the Pabbi police station limits, district Nowshera. According to Shameem, Bushra worked with the accused in his drama project. When he didn’t pay her, Bushra demanded it. The alleged perpetrator got infuriated and committed this heinous crime for revenge.

Local residents said the incident took place after a marriage proposal was rejected by the actress; however the police do not confirm any such reason behind the incident.

There were at least 150 registered cases of acid throwing in Pakistan in 2012. Reports indicate that in a majority of these cases, the trigger is disputes, may they be property-related, marital or familial. The jahez (dowry) factor is also common. A majority of acid-throwing victims are young girls up to the age of 25.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 23rd, 2013.]]>
			</content:encoded>
			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/567098-Bushra-1371933206/567098-Bushra-1371933206.JPG" class="featured_image"/>
            </image>
			</item><item>
			<title>Rejected proposal: Producer attacks Pashto actor Bushra with acid</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/566753/pashto-actor-bushra-injured-in-acid-attack</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/566753/pashto-actor-bushra-injured-in-acid-attack#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sat, 22 Jun 13 04:43:00 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[afp]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[K-P]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=566753</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Actor Bushra is known to star in local Pashto dramas and stage performances.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[A producer by the name of Shaukat attacked Pashto actor Bushra with acid after she allegedly refused to marry him, reported Express News on Saturday. 

According to 18 year-old Bushra, already-married producer Shaukat entered her house last night and threw acid on her when she refused to marry him.

"A man climbed the wall of our house in the early hours, threw acid on my sister and fled," Bushra's brother, Pervez Khan told AFP.

A local police official, Sultan Khan also confirmed the incident.

The teen was immediately taken to Lady Reading Hospital in Peshawar where Dr Suhail Ahmad said she had suffered 33 percent burn injuries, on her face and shoulder, but was in a stable condition.

Her brother Pervez Khan has lodged a complaint against the local TV drama producer, Shaukat Khan.

Actor Bushra is known to star in local Pashto dramas and stage performances.

Popular Pakistani singer Ghazala Javed, 24, was shot dead  by gunmen  as she left a beauty salon in Peshawar last year over a dispute with her ex-husband.

Acid attacks are common in Pakistan with scores of such assaults taking place each year.]]>
			</content:encoded>
			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/566753-acidattack-1371875690/566753-acidattack-1371875690.jpg" class="featured_image"/>
            </image>
			</item><item>
			<title>Losing face: Without awareness, acid-crime laws useless</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/560795/losing-face-without-awareness-acid-crime-laws-useless</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/560795/losing-face-without-awareness-acid-crime-laws-useless#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sun, 09 Jun 13 06:30:44 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Vaqas]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=560795</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[The law came into effect two years ago, but legal system yet to catch up.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[The primary purpose of laws in not punitive action, it is deterrence. Spreading awareness of the consequences of illegal actions to discourage future crimes by warning would-be perpetrators of the consequences of their actions. Almost two years after the amendment to Pakistan Penal Code (PPC) Section 336 to include acid crimes, this objective seems nowhere near being achieved.

In 2012 alone, at least 49 cases of acid attacks were recorded at police stations in Pakistan. However, independent estimates stand at well over 150, which, according to Sikandar Naeem Qazi — a lawyer who was involved in preparing the acid crimes bill — is because there are many incidents of misreporting or forced compromises.

Meanwhile, Acid Survivors Foundation (ASF) Chairperson Valerie Khan lamented the under reporting of acid-related crimes and said the registration of flawed First Information Reports (FIRs) weakens cases at trial.

“If we talk about 2012 alone, when Section 336 A and B were already part of the PPC, around 49 acid throwing cases were registered with different police stations across Pakistan. Deliberately or unintentionally, police officers did not incorporate the two clauses in 48 FIRs,” Khan said.



The ASF intervened to ensure the insertion of the section from the updated law, Khan said, but underscored that it was the responsibility of the government, not non-governmental organisations, to take care of the registration of accurate FIRs.

She said the new law, which makes acid crimes non-bailable and non-compoundable — cases cannot be settled through an out of court compromise — had been weakly implemented, resulting in acquittals of acid throwers.

Qazi said acid crimes were not like ‘normal’ crimes and needed special treatment, which would have to be done by the provinces under the 18th Amendment. He felt that special treatment of any kind had been fleeting, as too many people along the chain were not trained to report for the new law.

“The legislation by parliament is commendable, but it’s also the responsibility of the government to make sure it is properly implemented at the first stage, registration of correct FIRs under the relevant sections,” Khan added.

She said that after the introduction of the laws in 2011, conviction rates tripled from six per cent to 18 per cent when the correct clauses were inserted, but the rate of  acid attacks in Pakistan remains unchanged,due to a worrying lack of awareness of the issue at every level.

Qazi noted that in the case of one of his clients, Murad Shah — a male acid victim from Islamabad whose case became the first registered under Section 336 in the city — the police did not initially register a case under section 336 because they were unaware of the law.

In many cases, medico-legal officers are not properly trained to report for prosecution, and even lawyers and police are often not prepared to handle these cases because they are not familiar with the law yet, Qazi said, adding, “You cannot give a car to a person who doesn’t know how to drive and expect him not to crash it. People need to be trained — prosecutors, police, judges — because everyone needs to know how to handle these cases for justice to be served.”

These cases move very slowly, and victims cant afford that. A poor victim cannot afford treatment costs and could die without state aid, NGOs can only do so much, he said.

Qazi felt political will is needed to generate information awareness in effected areas and trainings at judicial and police academies.

“If the police don’t know what sections to use, or courts are unaware of a law , the victim is denied justice. Higher judiciaries are trying to improve the situation, the SC or high courts will give directions, but if the scope of the case is wrong little can be done.”

He felt implementation had been poor at all levels, noting that hard acids are illegal, but even general stores have them, while in rural areas, cane acid is unregulated.

“Legislation is not passed to help people, it is done for international point scoring, image building, and branding,” he said.

He felt the focus of face-saving should be on victims, not branding Pakistan. “The face is a part of a person’s identity. When you destroy it, you cancel out the person. In patriarchal Pakistan, a poor victim of an acid crime has nothing left to live for.”

Section 336-B, “Whoever causes hurt by corrosive substance shall be punished with imprisonment for life or imprisonment of either description which shall not be less than fourteen years and a minimum fine of aone million rupees.”

Section 336-A: Whosoever with intention or knowingly causes or attempts to cause hurt by means of a corrosive substance or any substance which is deleterious to human body when it is swallowed, inhaled, come in contact or received into human body or otherwise shall be said to cause hurt by corrosive substance.”

Published in The Express Tribune, June 9th, 2013.]]>
			</content:encoded>
			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/560795-Losingface-1370718709/560795-Losingface-1370718709.jpg" class="featured_image"/>
            </image>
			</item><item>
			<title>‘Honour’ crime: Man forced to drink acid dies</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/556719/honour-crime-man-forced-to-drink-acid-dies</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/556719/honour-crime-man-forced-to-drink-acid-dies#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Thu, 30 May 13 21:33:14 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[our.correspondent]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=556719</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[No one has been arrested so far.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[A man died here on Thursday shortly after he was forced to drink acid. The assailant had suspected him of having an affair with his (assailant’s) wife.


A case was registered on the complaint of the deceased’s brother. No one has been arrested so far.

Saddar police said that Javaid Khan, a resident of Chak 120-JB, had suspected that his wife and Muddassar Jamal from the neighbourhood were having an affair.

On Thursday, they said, Khan and his accomplices abducted Jamal from his house and took him to a dera, where they beat him up and forced acid into his mouth. After they fled, Jamal informed his brother

Rajab Ali, who took him to Allied Hospital where he died a few hours later.

Ali said that on the way to the hospital, his brother told him that he did not have an affair with Khan’s wife. He also identified the assailants.

SHO Inspector Mazharul Haq said the police were looking for the suspects.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 31st, 2013.]]>
			</content:encoded>
			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/556719-acid-1369949511/556719-acid-1369949511.jpg" class="featured_image"/>
            </image>
			</item><item>
			<title>Court orders free treatment for acid attack survivor, protection for family</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/553444/court-orders-free-treatment-for-acid-attack-survivor-protection-for-family</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/553444/court-orders-free-treatment-for-acid-attack-survivor-protection-for-family#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Thu, 23 May 13 20:12:00 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[our.correspondent]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=553444</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Victim was always treated poorly by her husband who is the prime suspect, says mother.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[A woman whose husband threw acid on her face will be receiving treatment on state expenses and her family will be given protection as well.

The Sindh High Court (SHC) ordered the health and police officials to provide her the best medical care and make sure the family are well-protected. The survivor Ruqaiya’s family had filed a petition seeking protection and demanding a trial of the suspects under the anti-terrorism act, 1997.

Her mother, Kausar Parveen, cited the provincial home secretary, the provincial police chief, DIG Karachi, Sharae Noor Jehan police station SHO and its in-charge investigations, and four other men - Muhammad Asghar, Muhammad Akbar, Muhammad Abbas and Fida Hussain - as respondents. She told the judges her daughter married Asghar, who was cruel to her from day one.

On April 6 this year, Asghar threw acid on Ruqaiya along with his brothers, Akbar and Abbas. She received critical injuries on her body, including her face, while her four children - eight-year-old Waqas, four-year-old Hussain, three-year-old Usman and two-year-old Ahmed - also suffered burns. Ruqqaiya is still under treatment at Civil Hospital Karachi’s Burns Ward.

“The Sharae Noor Jehan police have lodged a case 138/2013 under the attempt-to-murder section, but it should be registered under the anti-terrorism law,” pointed out the family’s lawyer, Qadir Hussain. He pleaded the court order the transfer of the proceedings from the ordinary court to the special anti-terrorism court to try the suspects under the anti-terrorism law for the gruesome offences they have committed.



The court was also told that the suspects were extending threats to the victim’s mother and children and warning of dire consequences for taking the case to the court. The lawyer requested the court order the police to provide the necessary protection.

Progress in case

On Wednesday, Sharae Noor Jehan police supervisory investigation officer Nisar Lodhi told the judges that three suspects - Asghar, Abbas and Akbar - had been arrested and case had been charge sheeted before the anti-terrorism court.

They are also making efforts to track down the remaining suspects, who have gone into hiding in Punjab. A letter has been sent to the authorities requesting permission to send a police team to arrest the absconders but they have yet to receive permission, he added.

Protection ordered

After the petitioner’s lawyer expressed satisfaction with the investigation’s outcome, the bench disposed of the petition. Chief Justice Mushir Alam, who headed the bench, ordered the police to ensure the petitioner and her family are given due protection and the culprits do not harass them anymore.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 24th, 2013.]]>
			</content:encoded>
			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/553444-Acidattack-1369339761/553444-Acidattack-1369339761.jpg" class="featured_image"/>
            </image>
			</item><item>
			<title>Scarred for life</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/550705/scarred-for-life</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/550705/scarred-for-life#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Fri, 17 May 13 17:38:02 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[editorial]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=550705</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Despite being one of the most horrendous forms of crime, acid attacks are quite common in our part of the world.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[A woman’s stepson allegedly threw acid on his stepmother and her sister in Multan because the former refused to give him money for narcotics. The police are still looking for the attacker. Acid is almost invariably used as a weapon against women by jilted lovers, jealous husbands, rejected suitors, or just as plain acts of vengeance such as this one. Many people just dismiss acid attacks as routine acts of injury but the gruesome reality of acid victims is much more horrifying. Some of them lose their lives in the end, while others who survive are condemned to live a painfully scarred life.

Despite being one of the most horrendous forms of crime, acid attacks are quite common in our part of the world. Those carrying out such attacks are not just aware of the irreparable damage they are going to cause but represent a sick mentality not averse to committing such an atrocious act. What makes acid the preferred choice is that it is easily available as toilet cleaner or for vehicle batteries, and can inflict severe disfigurement without causing death.

Apart from disfigurement, acid attack survivors have to constantly face social stigma, rejection, as well as psychological and emotional trauma. Usually, the survivors of such attacks become economically dependent on others for the rest of their lives, finding little space to adjust in society as healthy individuals. We, as a society, need to realise that survivors of acid attacks are equal citizens of this state and must be treated with utmost respect.

The previous parliament must be commended for introducing a minimum sentence of 14 years in jail and a fine of Rs 1 million for those found guilty of throwing acid. The conviction rate has increased since then but it is important to implement modalities to ensure that the sale and storage of acid is licensed to restrict access. Hospitals need more burn units and advanced technology to help acid survivors. The rehabilitation and social reintegration of acid survivors is another important area to work on.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 18th, 2013.]]>
			</content:encoded>
			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/550705-Acidattack-1368812251/550705-Acidattack-1368812251.jpg" class="featured_image"/>
            </image>
			</item><item>
			<title>Heinous crime: Step-mother, her sister injured in acid attack</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/550307/heinous-crime-step-mother-her-sister-injured-in-acid-attack</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/550307/heinous-crime-step-mother-her-sister-injured-in-acid-attack#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Thu, 16 May 13 21:34:30 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[owais.jafri]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=550307</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[The suspect is a drug addict, police say.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[A woman and her sister were taken to Nishtar Hospital in Multan on Thursday after they were attacked with acid allegedly by the former’s step-son, police said.

Police said Sohail Ahmed*, 25, the assailant, was missing since the attack. They said he was apparently a drug addict and had attacked his step-mother after she refused to give him money for narcotics.

A case has been registered on the complaint of the women’s brother. He told police that his sister Zahida Bibi*, a resident of Tatarwala in Jampur, was the second wife. He said after the death of her husband, her step-son Ahmed had been mistreating her.



He said Ahmed would beat her up if she refused to give him money. He said that Ahmed had been a drug addict for four years.

On Wednesday night, he said, Ahmed again asked her for money. When she refused, he left home. However, he returned with two unidentified men after some time and beat Zahida Bibi and her sister Anila Bibi*, who was visiting her. He them threw acid at the women and fled.

Some neighbours took the injured women to the tehsil headquarters hospital, from where they were sent to Nishtar Hospital in Multan.

Doctors treating them said that both the women had 50 per cent burns. In each case, they said, the acid had affected the face, the neck, the chest and the abdomen. They said it would take next 48 hours to see if the women were critical.



City Station House Officer Ghulam Fareed said that preliminary investigations had revealed a property dispute between the assailant and the step-mother. He said Ahmed’s mother had left home after his father married Zahida Bibi. He said his father had transferred most of his property to Zahida Bibi before his death.

Ahmed, the SHO said, had apparently been asking Zahida Bibi to return the property. He said Ahmed had attacked her twice previously, but she had remained unharmed.

The SHO said that a police team was looking for Ahmed and his accomplices. He said they would soon raid Ahmed’s mother’s house.

*Names Have Been Changed To Protect Identity

Published in The Express Tribune, May 17th, 2013.]]>
			</content:encoded>
			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/550307-acidattack-1368740022/550307-acidattack-1368740022.jpg" class="featured_image"/>
            </image>
			</item><item>
			<title>Support for burn victims: ‘Negligence, lack of protection for survivors among the main problems’</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/534419/support-for-burn-victims-negligence-lack-of-protection-for-survivors-among-the-main-problems</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/534419/support-for-burn-victims-negligence-lack-of-protection-for-survivors-among-the-main-problems#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Thu, 11 Apr 13 21:27:41 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[our.correspondent]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Sindh]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=534419</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Madadgaar National Helpline holds conference to share stories of two suffering families.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[Gyan Chand Meghwar, 17, was abducted, robbed and set on fire by his neighbours as his father was involved in an investigation against offenders in a case. Meghwar succumbed to his injuries at the Sukkur Civil Hospital almost two weeks ago.

Another victim, 27-year-old Ruqaiya, her three children and mother-in-law survived an acid attack by her husband, Asghar, after she refused to give him money. These were the two cases discussed at a press conference held by the Madadgaar National Helpline on Thursday to discuss violence against children and women.


“Delay in providing justice, lack of implementation of policies, police negligence, poor medical facilities, medico-legal negligence and availability of limited protection services are among the factors increasing such incidents,” said Zia Ahmed Awan, a lawyer and founder of the Madadgaar National Helpline.

Meghwar’s father, Basru Ram, told the media that his son was burned to death as he was involved in an investigation against Krishan Kumar - a suspect in two cases. Kumar and his sons were found guilty in one of the cases and were fined by the elders of the society.

“To take revenge, the offender’s sons kidnapped and killed Meghwar by burning him alive,” said Ram. Kumar and his three sons were arrested while one son is still on the run.

Ruqaiya, a resident of Nusrat Bhutto Colony, suffered 22 per cent burns after her husband allegedly threw acid on her while she was sleeping for not giving him money. She is being treated at the Karachi Civil Hospital. The suspect and his two brothers, who were named in the FIR, have yet to be arrested but were reportedly threatening the victims through their contacts.

“Everyone should urge the Chief Justice of Pakistan to take notice of such incidents as people don’t trust on any other institution except for the courts,” said Awan.

Taking care of survivors

The burn survivors should be provided legal aid, medical care and compensation from government while availability of the justice system should be made viable, said Awan. He cited unsatisfactory legal action against offenders as one of the main reason for the rise in cases of violence. “The cases of women and children being burned spread fear in the society and that is why such cases should be sent to the Anti-Terrorism Court for speedy trials.”

Highlighting another important issue, Awan told the media that there was only one burn centre in Karachi which covers Sindh and some areas of Balochistan. “One centre is not enough, especially since so many cases keep coming up.”

He suggested that the police should be present at the burn centres to record the immediate statement of survivors and to provide them security as they are threatened and pressured to change their statements.

The families of the victims and survivors appealed for medical aid and requested the government to take action against the culprits.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 12th, 2013.]]>
			</content:encoded>
			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/534419-Acidattack-1365715600/534419-Acidattack-1365715600.jpg" class="featured_image"/>
            </image>
			</item><item>
			<title>Acid sales regulation</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/518780/acid-sales-regulation</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/518780/acid-sales-regulation#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sun, 10 Mar 13 18:34:36 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Syed Mohammad Ali .]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Opinion]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=518780</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Highly concentrated acid is sold to the general public due to its multi-purpose usage, which is the real problem.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[The horrific act of attacking people with acid has been taking place across different parts of our country for the past several years. While instances of acid attacks occur in major cities, this particularly debilitating form of violence is even more prevalent in rural areas, such as the cotton-growing belt of southern Punjab. The need for an overarching legislative framework to deter acid attacks and provide relief to the victims remains vital. There is, however, another possibility which is to prevent acid attacks from taking place by regulating the widespread access to highly concentrated acid.

All across the country, one can walk into a number of shops in rural or urban centres and purchase any amount of highly concentrated acid from shopkeepers, who barely raise an eyebrow when selling this highly corrosive substance to their consumers. Besides the use of concentrated acid in several industrial processes, highly concentrated sulphuric and hydrochloric acid is sold to the general public due to its multi-purpose usage, which is the real problem.

In Pakistan’s cotton belt, highly concentrated acid is used to remove lint from cotton seed, as it is a cheap way to obtain clean seeds ready to be replanted. Given this practical use of acid, its sale is widespread. The accessibility of acid not only encourages its use to perpetrate the crime of acid throwing, but the widespread use of acid by the rural populace also poses health hazards, causes accidents and has detrimental effects on the environment. All these factors provide a convincing enough argument for the government to find substitutes for the prevalent cotton seed treatment.

In urban areas, it is a common household practice to use acid for cleaning or even drain-opening purposes. Promoting the use of safer cleaning agents would not prove very difficult, if government policies are put in place to deter their manufacture and sale. Sale licences are issued for possession and sale of poisonous substances, including acids, under the Poison Act (XII) of 1919.

Experts working on preventing acid attacks have recommended that a broader regulatory mechanism be put in place to minimise acid usage in non-industrial purposes. Meanwhile, they have suggested that acid should not be sold without proper identification and that action should be taken against those who sell acid without seeing proof of identity. Others emphasise the need for customers to be required by law to submit a copy of their national identity card before they are sold acid.

According to a recent statement by an adviser to the chief minister of Punjab, the province has banned unregulated sale of sulphuric acid to control acid crime. There is little information available concerning the steps which have been taken in this regard and if this measure will be continued after the coming elections remains to be seen.

We would do well to look at how India is trying to grapple with the same problem. The Indian Supreme Court has recently directed the centre to convene a meeting of Chief Secretaries of all states to evolve a consensus to regulate the sale of acid on the basis of public interest litigation, demanding a ban on over-the-counter sale of acid. Some of the suggestions emerging from this process could also be implemented in Pakistan, in consultation with the relevant stakeholders, including those who manufacture and use it.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 11th, 2013.]]>
			</content:encoded>
			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/518780-SyedMohammadAliNew-1362932923/518780-SyedMohammadAliNew-1362932923.jpg" class="featured_image"/>
            </image>
			</item><item>
			<title>Tough law sees acid conviction rate triple in Pakistan</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/515608/tough-law-sees-acid-conviction-rate-triple-in-pakistan</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/515608/tough-law-sees-acid-conviction-rate-triple-in-pakistan#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Mon, 04 Mar 13 06:32:24 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[afp]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=515608</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Victims, left with horrendous injuries and often blind, say the penalties are still too light.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[Few have much faith in the Pakistani courts, but campaigners say the conviction rate for acid attacks has tripled since tough new penalties were signed into law in late 2011.

Dozens of people, mostly women, but also men and children, are disfigured every year by one of the most brutal forms of domestic violence in a country where women are often treated as second-class citizens.

Campaigners have praised the government, which will this month become the first in Pakistan to complete a full-term in office, for passing legislation in support of human rights, even if immense challenges remain in implementation.

Parliament outlawed domestic violence last year. In 2011, it introduced a minimum sentence of 14 years in jail and a fine of one million rupees for those found guilty of throwing acid.

Statistics are patchy but Valerie Khan Yusufzai, chair of the Pakistan branch of the Acid Survivors Foundation, says the conviction rate rose from an average of six per cent before the amendment to 18 per cent in 2012.

Lawyer Sikander Naeem said: "It has become much easier to get a conviction because the Supreme Court has (also) taken a special interest in such matters. The statement of a victim alone is sufficient for the conviction of any accused."

But victims, left with horrendous injuries and often blind, say the penalties are still too light.

Jamila* was attacked in June 2011 for spurning the advances of a son of her boss at a factory, where she earned $46 a month making water dispensers. Her family sacrificed almost everything to get her attacker jailed in July 2012.

"I was very relieved and happy for my father that his efforts paid off given everything he did. But when I think about how I'm living, how disfigured I am, I think it (the punishment) should have been much worse."

Her father repairs television sets, but distracted by the case and with Pakistan gripped by crippling power cuts his business dried up.

"Sometimes there wasn't even enough money for one meal a day," she says.

Now 15 years old, clumps of her hair are burnt to the scalp. Half her arm, her chest and her leg are burnt. There are splash burns on her feet.

She is blind in her right eye and partially sighted in the left.

She has had six operations, needs reconstruction work on her lips and ears, and requires a hair transplant.

Jamila hates meeting new people, despises talking about the attack and feels weak if she exerts herself too much. Apart from travelling for medical treatment, she never leaves home in the eastern city of Lahore.

Lawyers and campaigners admit challenges remain.

Naeem wants a special court set up to deal specifically with acid crimes, to make the legal process easier and he says compensation needs to be paid more quickly to help the victims get treatment.

Awareness can be another problem.

Last December, a couple who confessed to murdering their 15-year-old daughter with acid in Pakistan-administered Kashmir later insisted she committed suicide and with no witnesses or evidence, the judge released them on bail.

Pakistan's leading human rights group said nearly 1,000 women and girls were murdered in 2011 after being accused of bringing shame on their families.

It was extreme family pressure that ultimately led Saima Bibi*, a mother of two, to accept an out of court settlement for $4,000 in 2009.

Her tale underlines the difficulties faced by many victims, particularly those who are poorly educated in rural areas and who are dependent on relatives and terrified of their husband's families taking away their children.

She grew up in Bahawalpur in southern Punjab, said to be a recruiting ground for extremist militant groups, and was sold into marriage when she was 13 years old.

Her husband died, leaving her with two daughters under two. Bibi's abusive in-laws forced her to marry their other son, who already had a wife.

"His first wife was really angry. She never lost an opportunity to insult me and threatened to throw acid at me, to ruin me," she told AFP, her face swathed in bandages after an operation to rebuild her eyelids.

"Then three months after we got married, at 2:00am while I was asleep, she threw acid at me, on my face, neck, chest half my stomach and my left arm," she said.

Bibi, now 26, was left blind. Her face was destroyed.

Her husband refused to register his wife as the culprit and her in-laws demanded she settle out of court. So did her brother.

Eventually she settled.

"I didn't want to at all, but one of my sisters is also married to my in-laws and they threatened to ruin her life. My life was already ruined, but her's shouldn't have to be as well.

"And when I realised that the real perpetrator wouldn't even be going to jail, I didn't want to carry on so I got the Rs400,000 and bought a plot for myself and now I've got a little grocery shop," she added.

Today, she sends her daughters to school and is still on speaking terms with her husband, but has never again spoken to his first wife.

"If I could see I wouldn't have (spoken to her husband), but they need a father and it's important to have a man in the house sometimes," she said.

But does she wish the new law had come into effect in time for her?

"The only punishment that can make this OK is if acid is thrown at them," she said.

*Names have been changed to protect identity]]>
			</content:encoded>
			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/515608-acidattackvictimsaimaafp-1362378597/515608-acidattackvictimsaimaafp-1362378597.jpg" class="featured_image"/>
            </image>
			</item><item>
			<title>Missing evidence: Acid attack victim’s mother seeks justice</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/511635/missing-evidence-acid-attack-victims-mother-seeks-justice</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/511635/missing-evidence-acid-attack-victims-mother-seeks-justice#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sun, 24 Feb 13 06:51:54 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[fazal.khaliq]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=511635</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[An FIR was registered for attempted suicide, despite daughter’s video statement implicating in-laws.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[The mother of a woman allegedly killed by her husband and in-laws in Mangar Kot village, Malam Jabba, has sought justice from the government for her daughter, whose death is being treated as a suicide.


Bano, 22-year-old Tahira’s mother has accused her daughter’s in-laws of throwing acid on her daughter.  Tahira told me that her husband Saba Khan grabbed her and her mother-in-law and sister-in-law threw acid on her last March, while she was admitted in hospital.

Tahira was then shut in a room for 14 days, despite severe burn injuries on her body. Her in-laws used herbal medicines for treatment but when neighbours were alerted by her constant screams, they were forced to take her to the Saidu Sharif Teaching Hospital.

“We came to know about our daughter’s fate three weeks later when I was with my daughter-in-law in the hospital.” Someone came to me saying that a burnt girl has been brought from Mangar Kot village, she said. When I went to see her it was my daughter. “Observing her critical condition we shifted her to Peshawar.”

When we went to the Malam Jabba police station to register an FIR, the police mocked us for reporting the incident 20 days later, Bano said. The police registered an FIR under Article 316 as an attempted suicide,” she told The Express Tribune.



Bano accused her daughter’s in-laws of dousing her daughter in acid and said when Tahira succumbed to injuries neither her husband nor her in-laws came for condolence which proved that they were guilty. “We only want justice for our daughter,” she said, requesting the Chief Justice and Prime Minister of Pakistan to take notice of the case.

When Malam Jabba police SHO Ahmad Khan was contacted for his version, he said an FIR of attempted suicide had been registered. Similarly Saba also claimed that his wife had committed suicide. They refused to say more about the matter.

From the post mortem report it was learnt that the doctors could not identify whether the wounds were caused by acid or fire because of the herbal medicines applied on the wound by her in-laws.

In an interview Tahira gave to a local television channel just before her death, she accused her husband and in-laws that of throwing some fluid on her body which burnt her, however, the investigation officer of the case did not include it deliberately in the investigation file.

“The most important thing in the case is Tahira’s dying video statement. Under Article 164 of the 1984 Qanoon-e-Shahadat, any modern device is admissible for recording testimony. If Tahira’s video statement is included, the case will take a new turn,” said Saima Anwar a district court lawyer, adding that the police must include the video statement in the investigation report.

The case is being heard in the district courts. But according to the victim’s lawyer, Sohail Sultan, the case has been weakened as the police did not include the key evidence-the video recording in which the victim has recorded her statement. “The statement under Article 46 of the Qanoon-e-Shahdat 1984 is sufficient to indict the accused so we demand that the police include it in the investigation file,” he said.

Tahira’s parents are too poor to pursue the case, so non-governmental organisations, the Awakening and Da Khwendo Tolana, a sister group, are presently financing the case.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 24th, 2013.]]>
			</content:encoded>
			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/511635-Acidattack-1361694020/511635-Acidattack-1361694020.jpg" class="featured_image"/>
            </image>
			</item><item>
			<title>Women’s issues: ‘Those buying acid must identify themselves’</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/510762/womens-issues-those-buying-acid-must-identify-themselves</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/510762/womens-issues-those-buying-acid-must-identify-themselves#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Thu, 21 Feb 13 19:05:24 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[our.correspondent]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=510762</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Speakers stress need for latest education, health facilities in rural areas.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[The Punjab government has banned unregulated sale of sulphuric acid to control acid crime, Adviser to the Chief Minister Begun Zakiya Shahnawaz said on Wednesday.


She was presiding over a consultation What Kind of Pakistan do Women Want, organised by the Aurat Foundation where participants said that acid should not be sold without proper identification. Some speakers suggested that customers should be required by law to submit a copy of their national identity card before they were sold.

The speakers said action should be taken against those who sold acid without seeing proof of identity.

Former MNA Mehnaz Rafi, former MPA Dr Nadia Aziz, Aurat Foundation Programme Manager Mumtaz Mughal, Naveed Akhtar Chaudhry, Naseem Joseph and representativeness of the city’s 10 union councils were also present.

Begum Shahnawaz said that even if one of 100 women highlighted women’s rights issues and played her role in making other aware of them, the entire society would become enlightened.

She said the government had made laws on violence against women. These should be used to make lives safer. She hoped that the future governments would take the initiative forward and make more laws to protect women.

She said social and political organisations had a crucial role in raising awareness and educating people about women’s rights and their protection.

Rafi said that perpetrators of attack on innocent people must be punished.

“No society can flourish until men and women are given equal rights,” she added.

Other speakers, too, stressed the need for provision of education and health facilities in the rural areas and provision of work opportunities to the women there. They said women had a key role in the country’s economy.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 22nd, 2013.]]>
			</content:encoded>
			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/510762-acidattack-1361473458/510762-acidattack-1361473458.jpg" class="featured_image"/>
            </image>
			</item><item>
			<title>Acid attack: Two suffer burns</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/509693/acid-attack-two-suffer-burns</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/509693/acid-attack-two-suffer-burns#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Tue, 19 Feb 13 20:53:38 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[our.correspondent]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=509693</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[The police said that the motive was not known yet.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[Three motorcyclists on Tuesday threw acid on two men in Usman Town.

The victims, Arshad and his nephew Waseem, were on their way home from work on a motorcycle when they were attacked.

Both suffered burns to their upper bodies. The police said that the motive was not known yet. The victims are being treated at Civil Hospital.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 20th, 2013.]]>
			</content:encoded>
			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/509693-faisalabad-1361297729/509693-faisalabad-1361297729.jpg" class="featured_image"/>
            </image>
			</item><item>
			<title>I am a success story: Tehmina Durrani</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/508296/i-am-a-success-story-tehmina-durrani</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/508296/i-am-a-success-story-tehmina-durrani#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sat, 16 Feb 13 16:33:53 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Shayan Naveed]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=508296</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Author discusses the consequences of writing My Feudal Lord and being married to Shahbaz Sharif]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[Twenty-two years since it was published, Tehmina Durrani's controversial autobiography still remains relevant in Pakistan today.

It is no wonder then that 'My Feudal Lord' dominated a conversation with the author and activist on day two of the fourth Karachi Literature Festival on Saturday.

But the oppressed wife of prominent Punjab politican, Mustafa Khar, in the book, stood out on Saturday as, in her own words, a warrior.

Speaking less about her violent marriage, Durrani chose, instead, to speak about the consequences of writing 'My Feudal Lord', which describes how her husband beat her, humiliated her and had an affair with her sibling.

Her family, who hails from Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, shunned her for 13 years after the book, which was initially banned in Pakistan, was published.

"The price (for writing the book) was a severe and lonely one for me," Durrani said, adding that she had made mammoth enemies as she took on the entire feudal system.

As her sisters looked on from the front row, Durrani stated how the real consequences were borne by her family, especially her parents.

"No amount of apologies and gratitude will be enough. My family suffered much more than I did," she said.

Durrani added that such bold actions come when one has no support system. While she was left alone to fend for herself, she was "free to become the warrior" that she had become.

"It's taken a long time. I don't think Pakistan was ready for someone like me. But at the same time I got a lot of support."

On being labeled an opportunist, Durrani said it was a superficial shying away of something they didn't like.

She added that people had, now, accepted her because of her consistency.

"I was sowing seeds that would sprout later. Everything did take time, but it was this consistency that made me acceptable."

After her debut novel, she went on to write a book on Abdul Sattar Edhi, titled, 'A Mirror to the Blind', and later, 'Blasphemy'. Durrani has also been a string advocate of women's rights in Pakistan and has highlighted many important cases, particularly that of acid attack victim Fakhra Younus.

Durrani went on to say that her heart would always be with the oppressed, whom she feels she has complete affiliation with.

She said it was imperative for people to realise how empowered they are. The power, she said, was within herself; she did not inherit it and nobody made it easy for her.

"I am your best example… I am a success story."

Durrani made headlines in 2003 again, when she tied the knot - for the third time - with Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif. "What is Shahbaz Sharif like?" moderator Ameena Saiyid asked, as the crowd broke into a controlled chuckle.

Durrani started off on a light note, saying, "People keep thinking I am going to write another book"; but went on to describe her husband as a "fine man" and a "gift of God".

After everything she has been through, Durrani said her standards were high. "I think I married the right man for the people of my country".

He married a twice-divorced mother of five, which shows how progressive and liberal he is, she added.

When Saiyed pointed out that their marriage said a lot about Shahbaz, Durrani was quick to question, "Because he married someone like me?"

"No," said Saiyed. "Because he has made you happy."

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

&nbsp;]]>
			</content:encoded>
			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/508296-image-1361032262/508296-image-1361032262.jpg" class="featured_image"/>
            </image>
			</item><item>
			<title>Young woman found raped, strangled</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/501262/young-woman-found-raped-strangled</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/501262/young-woman-found-raped-strangled#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Fri, 01 Feb 13 08:58:26 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[our.correspondent]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Punjab]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=501262</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Victim’s face burnt away by acid to conceal identity.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[A young woman was found raped and strangled, her face burnt away by acid, in Islampura police jurisdiction on Thursday.


The duty officer at Islampura police station said that the body had been spotted near T-spur No 4 of the River Ravi and reported to the police. He said that the woman appeared to have been in her early 20s. The body had been found wrapped in a cloth. She had likely been raped and strangled elsewhere and then dumped here, he said. The acid had been poured on her face after the murder so it would be difficult to identify her, he added.

Riaz, a resident of Bund Road, told The Express Tribune that as he went to his workplace by bicycle in the morning, he saw the body with smoke rising from it, apparently due to the acid. He said that there were bruises on the body and the young woman was wearing jeans and a shirt. He said that the clothes were torn in some places.

A large crowd gathered around the body after news spread that a young woman had been found dead.

The police made announcements through mosque loudspeakers asking people to come forward to identify the body, but no one came forward. The body was sent to the morgue for an autopsy.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 1st, 2013.]]>
			</content:encoded>
			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/501262-Acidattack-1359708789/501262-Acidattack-1359708789.jpg" class="featured_image"/>
            </image>
			</item><item>
			<title>Woman held in connection with acid attack</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/499519/woman-held-in-connection-with-acid-attack</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/499519/woman-held-in-connection-with-acid-attack#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Mon, 28 Jan 13 07:10:12 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Vaqas]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=499519</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Two suspects are already in police custody; the victim is in stable condition.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[A woman was arrested by the Islamabad police on Sunday for her role in an acid attack on the branch manager of a private bank last Tuesday. The woman was arrested after two men already in custody named her as the person who paid them to throw acid at the victim.

In the evening on that fateful Tuesday, Murad Amir Shah, 29, was at home with his wife and two young children. A bell rang, and he went to the door. As he opened it, Naveed, a janitor who worked at Murad’s previous office stood before him. Before he knew, Naveed had doused Shah’s face with liquid from a small container. Naveed tried to run, but Shah quickly tackled him and saw his accomplice drive off.

Then the pain began.

The container was full of acid.

Neighbours had come out to see where the commotion was coming from. Fortunately, an NGO that assists acid victims was located nearby. Staff from the NGO gave Shah immediate attention, before rushing him to hospital. Shocked and in a state of disbelief at what happened, his wife, Sakina Ahmed, called his sister in Lahore.



When his sister got to the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences Burn Care Centre, she was greeted by the sight of her younger brother’s bandaged body, the skin underneath blackened by the acid. Most of his right side --- his face, arm, chest and leg, had been affected. He had third-degree burns on 25% of his body. But there was a silver lining --- he would make it through.

Hospital staff and the victim’s relatives confirmed that Shah is in stable condition and should make a full recovery. However, the timeline for recovery will run into months, and the scarring on his body could take even longer.

While Shah recovers in hospital bed, the police investigation has been progressing. Naveed had been hired by Amir Basharat alias Rocky, who was the accomplice. Both men are residents of Hansa Colony in Sector G-8.

After being brought in by the police, Rocky gave up his paymaster, a woman named Samar. According to Investigation Officer Nusrat Ali of the Golra police, Samar Pervaiz was arrested in Islamabad on Sunday. Ali said Pervaiz and Shah knew each other, and the case seems to the result of spurned advances.

Shah’s brother-in-law was quick to note how thorough the police have been in handling the case and was full of praise for their performance, describing them as “extremely forthcoming, compassionate, and quick”.

When The Express Tribune spoke to Shah on Sunday, he readily admitted to having known Samar before he got married. “I lost touch after I got married. A while into my marriage, Samar tried to get in touch with me, but I refused. I had moved on in life and was happy.”

Samar, it would seem, had not moved forward. According to Shah’s own knowledge of the investigation, “Samar paid Rocky Rs35,000 to attack me. Rocky paid Naveed Rs10,000 and kept the rest.”

Neither Shah nor the police were sure whether the attack was meant to kill or maim, But Shah was confident the police would find out, and that his attackers would be punished. In the meantime, beyond the bandages, Shah still had his trademark wit. Peering over at a live tennis match from the Australian Open, he quipped, “At least my eyes and ears are fine. I can enjoy tennis while I’m here.”

Even though his vital organs and his base senses were not affected, the road to recovery is long. Shah contemplated the future on his hospital bed, wondering about the impact of the burns on his career, which depends on client interaction.

He worried about the impact his wounds were having on his widowed mother, and how she was dealing with the sight of her only son wrapped up in bandages. He was worried about the reaction he would get from his three-year-old daughter and thirteen-month old son.

But, he was still hopeful. “Come what may, the love of my wife and children, my mother, my sisters and my friends will get me through this.” *With additional reporting by Obaid Abbasi

Published in The Express Tribune, January 28th, 2013.

&nbsp;]]>
			</content:encoded>
			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/499519-acidattack-1359356983/499519-acidattack-1359356983.jpg" class="featured_image"/>
            </image>
			</item><item>
			<title>Preventing acid attacks</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/499388/preventing-acid-attacks-2</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/499388/preventing-acid-attacks-2#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sun, 27 Jan 13 17:16:23 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[editorial]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Editorial]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=499388</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Statistics on violence against women make for a depressing read in Pakistan and this year is no exception.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[Statistics on violence against women make for a depressing read in Pakistan and this year is no exception. Though a report by the Aurat Foundation states the reported cases of violence against women in 2012 saw a drop of 12 per cent from the previous year, cases of acid attacks saw a whopping increase of 89 per cent in the same period. This is a horrific figure made gloomier by the realisation that this all happened despite the passing in 2011 of two laws deemed pro-women: The Acid Control and Acid Crime Prevention Bill and The Prevention of Anti-Women Practices Bill. Laws are supposed to act as deterrents to crime and while one cannot expect them to immediately arrest heinous acts overnight, a spike of 89 per cent in a year is rather extraordinary. Perhaps, it explains why a group of nine MPAs from the ruling coalition presented a bill last month calling for the death penalty for those found guilty of carrying out acid attacks. They also asked that investigation of an acid attack be completed within a fortnight of a case being filed and a trial be conducted in a week, adding that if the investigating officer is found negligent, he be fined or punished for two years. That lawmakers would consider something as drastic as capital punishment, perhaps, indicates their level of frustration at being unable to find a way to tackle this crime that has placed Pakistan as one of the nations with the highest incidents of acid attacks in the world — with an Oscar for a documentary on the subject to prove it.

Perhaps where the frustration lies is in societal attitudes, nay obsession, towards honour. An acid attack on a woman is most often linked to her honour, or lack thereof, and almost always destroys her life. Those who work in rehabilitating the lives of survivors truly deserve accolades. However, laws alone cannot bring about change. Gender equality must be inculcated from an early age and tolerance for all views trumpeted, for that can serve as a powerful deterrent.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 28th, 2013.]]>
			</content:encoded>
			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/499388-women-1359306932/499388-women-1359306932.jpg" class="featured_image"/>
            </image>
			</item><item>
			<title>Violence against women: Acid-throwing convict gets 27 years</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/499164/violence-against-women-acid-throwing-convict-gets-27-years</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/499164/violence-against-women-acid-throwing-convict-gets-27-years#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sun, 27 Jan 13 14:46:27 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[our.correspondent]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=499164</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Muhammad Rafiq Awan fined Rs265,000, ordered to give Rs1.465 million to victim in compensation.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[A man who attacked and injured a woman with acid was given 27-years rigorous imprisonment and a fine by a sessions court.

Islamabad Additional Sessions Judge Rafaqat Ahmad Khan Awan on Saturday awarded the sentence to Muhammad Rafiq Awan and fined him Rs265,000, along with ordering compensation for the victim to the tune of Rs1.465 million.

On Dec 4, 2010, the Shalimar police registered an FIR against Awan after he entered the house of a woman identified as Mrs Rafiq and threw acid on her face, causing serious burn injuries on her face.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 27th, 2013.]]>
			</content:encoded>
			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/499164-Acidattack-1359297930/499164-Acidattack-1359297930.jpg" class="featured_image"/>
            </image>
			</item><item>
			<title>Convicting acid throwing cases</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/493104/convicting-acid-throwing-cases</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/493104/convicting-acid-throwing-cases#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sat, 12 Jan 13 19:19:49 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[m.zaidi]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=493104</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Stringent laws will be wasted unless standards of institutionalising such laws are improved.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[One of the most horrifying forms of gender-based violence in Pakistan, throwing acid (usually sulphuric acid) on women — with malicious intent to take revenge, disfigure and harm the person — has long-lasting physical and psychological consequences. Pakistan tops the list of countries with incidence of acid attacks on women. The perpetrators are most often relatives or rivals — sometimes for a woman's affections — or in non-gender-based attacks, opponents provoked by property disputes or other disagreements.
In fact, nearly 150 incidents of acid attacks take place every year in Pakistan, out of which about 50 occur in Balochistan alone.

Acid throwing is also a common phenomenon in south Punjab as well as in parts of Sindh, being randomly dispersed throughout the rest of the country. Acid throwing usually occurs when a male perceives that a female related/unrelated to him has indulged in dishonouring him, usually indulging in some act which is perceived to be outside the ambit of marriage or social norms. In retribution, acid is thrown on the face and exposed parts of the woman, disfiguring her for the rest of her life. There are two broad, though not exhaustive categories of acid throwing; one in which the woman and man are related in a relationship, such as in matrimony, and the other is in which the man and woman do not have such a close relationship. In the former, a husband usually perceives the wife to be cheating on him and disfigures her with acid, while in the latter, a man disfigures a woman because either she does not entertain his advances of marriage or other overtures, or he perceives that the woman is of 'loose character' and is 'contaminating' society. In either case, the accused are usually not very well-educated, though not exclusively, as acid throwing has been attributed to educated persons who were presumably spurred on by feelings of violated honour.

Acid attacks became illegal in Pakistan in 2010 when parliament passed the Acid Control and Acid Crime Prevention Bill; this can carry punishments of up to lifetime imprisonment. However, the law is rarely enforced in rural areas and acid attacks continue, even on the heels of the Oscar-winning documentary, Saving Face, which featured a number of Pakistani acid attack victims. Recently though,, acid attacks on women have started getting recognition as serious crimes. For instance, acid throwing has been scheduled as an Anti Terrorist Act offence in Punjab. Inclusion of acid throwing on women as a serious crime is a step in the right direction, but so far only Punjab out of all provinces has included this in the category of cases under the Anti Terrorist Act. However, this needs to be replicated by all the provinces, particularly Balochistan and Sindh, which have the highest rates of such offences. Following in the footsteps of Punjab, these offences should be included in the schedule to the Anti Terrorist Act 1997, as this grievous offence against women should not be allowed to go unpunished.

Despite such stringent laws, many examples of such cases going unpunished abound in our criminal justice process. The standard of investigation of such offences by police in Pakistan is low, even though this sort of crime should be an 'open and shut' case of medical evidence supported by motive; this still does not happen due to poor presentation of cases. The police stands at the broad base of the pillars of prosecution; it is the investigation which determines most of all how the case would look at the prosecution stage. The prosecution can only manage whatever investigative leads have been given to it, while the judiciary can only rule on how the case is presented to it by the prosecution. Thus, the biggest responsibility lies with the police to come up with cogent, acceptable levels of investigation that can be presented properly by the prosecution in court. This is exactly what the police in Pakistan is not able to do for so many reasons and that is precisely why many, if not most of  such cases fail due to the inability of police to present its case through proper investigation or not following procedure.

Usually, an acid throwing criminal case depends upon direct evidence, which is corroborated by motive, medical documentation and recovery of corrosive material. These are three corroborative pieces of evidence, which are staple requirement in cases of acid throwing and should almost guarantee conviction. Many times the courts are sympathetic towards such cases but as this depends on how the case is presented by the police, flaws in presentation of cases makes them untenable. Also, there is continuing pressure on victims and their families to stop pursuing their cases. In this way, notwithstanding existing laws, many such cases will not go to conviction. Policymakers should sit down and examine the frequently recurring dilemma of the criminal justice process in Pakistan, which operates in acid attacks cases as well; stringent laws will be wasted unless standards of institutionalising such laws are improved.

 Published in The Express Tribune, January 13th, 2013.]]>
			</content:encoded>
			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/493104-MZaidiNew-1358009880/493104-MZaidiNew-1358009880.JPG" class="featured_image"/>
            </image>
			</item><item>
			<title>Acid attack: Man throws acid on wife, her sister</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/492837/acid-attack-man-throws-acid-on-wife-her-sister</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/492837/acid-attack-man-throws-acid-on-wife-her-sister#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sat, 12 Jan 13 01:24:51 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Kashif Zafar]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=492837</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Wife was living with her parents.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[A man threw acid on Thursday evening on his wife and her sister in the Abbasia village, Jinnah Abadi, in Liaqatpur.


Rukhsana told The Express Tribune that she was married to Asif five years ago. She said Asif was jobless and an alcoholic and would beat her. She said he would also force her to bring money from her parents.

“Around 10 days ago, I returned to my parents house,” she said.

She said her parents were away on Thursday evening when Asif came and beat her. “When my sister, Shamim, tried to save me, Asif beat her too. When we shouted for help, Asif threw acid at us and fled,” she said.

She said one of their neighbours took them to the Liaqatpur Tehsil Headquarters (THQ) Hospital.

A doctor who treated them at Liaqatpur THQ hospital told The Express Tribune that they had been transferred to Shaikh Zayed Hospital in Rahim Yar Khan to be treated for burns.

A doctor at Shaikh Zayed Hospital said Rukhsana had suffered injuries to her face and her body. Shamim had burns in the right eye, face and body. He said doctors were trying to save the eye.

Liaqatpur Station House Officer Mohammad Aslam said Mohammad Asif had yet to be arrested.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 12th, 2013.

&nbsp;]]>
			</content:encoded>
			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/492837-acidattack-1357953699/492837-acidattack-1357953699.jpg" class="featured_image"/>
            </image>
			</item><item>
			<title>Switching to life terms: MPs backtrack on death  penalty plea for acid attackers</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/483336/switching-to-life-terms-mps-backtrack-on-death-penalty-plea-for-acid-attackers</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/483336/switching-to-life-terms-mps-backtrack-on-death-penalty-plea-for-acid-attackers#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sun, 23 Dec 12 05:27:32 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[qamar.zaman]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=483336</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Say proposal was intended as a deterrent against attacks.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[The Acid throwing and Burn Crime Bill 2012 has been referred to the relevant standing committee of the lower house for further deliberations but some of the movers have backtracked from earlier stance by opposing the proposal of death penalty for the crime


The original bill introduced by the group in the lower house last Tuesday had called for either the death penalty or life imprisonment as punishment.

Section 6 of the Acid Throwing and Burn Crime Bill, 2012 reads: “(1) Whoever commits or attempts to commit an offence of acid or burn attack shall: (i) if such act has resulted in the death of any person be punished with death or imprisonment for life; and; (ii) whoever intentionally causes hurt by Acid and Burn attack shall be punished with death or rigorous imprisonment for life.”

The group cited a growing number of acid throwing and burn crimes as the reason for suggesting the death penalty.

The bill has been referred to the Standing Committee on Law and Justice for fine tuning, and movers believe that the suggestion of capital punishment could trigger a new debate.

“The issue (punishment) will trigger a debate in the standing committee since the government is discouraging the death sentence,” said MNA Yasmeen Rehman while talking to The Express Tribune, on Saturday. “In my opinion, the punishment should not be the death sentence [for acid throwing crimes],” Rehman added.

Shahnaz Wazir Ali of the ruling Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) also referred to the standpoint of her party’s government and said that the sentence is likely to change.  “I think it (the death sentence) will be changed during the likely debate in the standing committee,” she said.

Justifying the proposal, she said that several people were of the view that there should be severe punishment for such heinous crimes. She added that, until recently, there was no punishment at all for the crimes and the proposal was intended as a deterrent to curb the growing number of acid throwing cases.



“We will try our level best to have the bill approved in the next session of the National Assembly,” said Wazir Ali.

However, MNA Riaz Fatiana was not upbeat about the fate of the bill, citing the approaching end of term for the incumbent National Assembly and the lengthy process every bill goes through before being passed.

Responding to a question regarding punishment of the crime, Fatiana also said he was opposed to awarding the death penalty in acid or burn crimes.

“How many people do you want to hang?” he questioned, referring to existing laws according to which crimes under anti-narcotics or robbery are tantamount to a death sentence. He also highlighted another piece of legislation on the subject and said the maximum punishment for the offence is 14-year imprisonment and the same should apply to this bill. Responding to a question on the moratorium on of death penalty by the PPP government, he said: “The president has neither pardoned those who have been awarded the death penalty nor has he implemented the sentence.”

The bill was jointly introduced by four members of the  PPP Yasmeen Rehman, Shahnaz Wazir Ali, Dr Nafisa Shah and Dr Azra Fazal Pechuho, three members from Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid, Dr Attiya Inaatullah, Riaz Fatyana and Humayun Saifullah Khan, and one member from the Muttahida Quami Movement Khush Bakht Shujaat.

Moved by Dr Attiya Inayatullah, the 35-clause bill provides guidelines for investigation, protection of witnesses, establishment of the acid and burn crime monitoring board as well as its responsibilities.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 23rd, 2012.]]>
			</content:encoded>
			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/483336-acidattackdeathpenalty-1356240343/483336-acidattackdeathpenalty-1356240343.jpg" class="featured_image"/>
            </image>
			</item><item>
			<title>Capital punishment: Acid bill tabled in NA calls for death penalty</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/481438/capital-punishment-acid-bill-tabled-in-na-calls-for-death-penalty</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/481438/capital-punishment-acid-bill-tabled-in-na-calls-for-death-penalty#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Wed, 19 Dec 12 05:37:40 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[qamar.zaman]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=481438</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Provides guidelines for investigation of attacks, witness protection.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[A group of nine MPs from the ruling coalition on Tuesday proposed the death penalty for those found guilty of carrying out acid and burn attacks.

Moved by Dr Attiya Inayatullah, the 35-clause bill provides guidelines for investigation, protection of witnesses, establishment of the acid and burn crime monitoring board and its responsibilities.

The bill stipulates that investigation of acid and burn crimes be completed within 14 days of an FIR being filed and that a trial be conducted within seven days.

In case the investigating officer is found negligent, the bill suggests a punishment of two years, a fine, or both.

The bill reads: “(1) Whoever commits or attempts to commit an offence of acid or burn attack shall: (i) if such act has resulted in the death of any person be punished with death or imprisonment for life; and; (ii) whoever intentionally causes hurt by acid and burn attack shall be punished with death or rigorous imprisonment for life,” reads section 6 of The Acid Throwing and Burn Crime Bill, 2012.

It was jointly introduced by four members of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), three members from Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) and one member of the Muttahida Quami Movement (MQM), Khushbakht Shujaat.

The bill calling for the death penalty comes on the heels of the recent hanging of a convict in Mianwali jail on November 15, following four years of a de facto moratorium on the death penalty in the country.

On a point of order raised by PPP’s Palwasha Khan, the house observed a minute’s silence for 70-year-old Swedish social worker, Briggette Alemby, who was shot dead in Lahore earlier this month.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 19th, 2012.]]>
			</content:encoded>
			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/481438-acidattackdeathpenalty-1355895393/481438-acidattackdeathpenalty-1355895393.jpg" class="featured_image"/>
            </image>
			</item><item>
			<title>Acid-throwing and the state</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/480158/acid-throwing-and-the-state</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/480158/acid-throwing-and-the-state#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sat, 15 Dec 12 21:21:09 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[editorial]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Editorial]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=480158</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[It is our bad luck that ideology of those who want to push Pakistan back is same as ideology of the state of Pakistan.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[By giving the Acid Survivors Foundation (ASF) Rs10 million, Australia has highlighted the growing trend of acid-throwing in Pakistan. The ASF is one of the two organisations that have received the Rs10 million grant from the Australian government under its annual Human Rights Grant Scheme. Pakistan’s Jinnah Institute is the other recipient. According to a report by the Aurat Foundation, acid attacks against women had soared by 37.5% in 2011 compared with 2010. This year, the ASF has noted 95 acid attacks.

If the figures are based only on the number of cases registered by the police, then we don’t have the actual size of the practice of throwing acid. It has almost become a ritual in Pakistan to disfigure women to satisfy the pride of the man in our male-dominated society. Under the Criminal Law (Amendment) Act 2011, offenders can be fined up to one million rupees and can be imprisoned for life. But for the law to be effective, we need a police that is untainted by our dubious codes of honour.

In an environment of intense religious consciousness, Pakistan has fallen victim to male egotism focused on the female section of society for the satisfaction of its fundamental demand of honour. Wife, daughter and mother end up being the repository of this honour and their conduct has to be seen by men as upholding male honour at all times. Neither religion nor literacy seems to have affected this very primitive trend. This pitiable situation has been brought to international attention by a pioneering Pakistani film-maker Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy in her Oscar-winning documentary Saving Face earlier this year. One can say that the help from Australia has come after the success of this film at the international level.

Saving Face highlights the bleak situation for women in Pakistan, particularly in remote or uneducated areas, where they are viewed as second-class citizens. Acid attacks — which destroy lives in an instant — are made possible by the easy availability of acid as a cheap cleaning fluid or for use in the cotton industry. It is no consolation to discover that Pakistan is not the only place where acid is used to express the honour of men. Cambodia, Colombia, Nepal and Thailand, too, are in the same league but not on the same scale as Pakistan where the trend is catching on, watched helplessly by a dysfunctional state.

Pakistan reacted to the acid-throwing phenomenon by staging yet another shameful episode. Malala Yousufzai was shot in the face by the Taliban for standing up against their drive to end female literacy in Pakistan through the destruction of their schools. What was shameful is that most Pakistanis turned against her on social media. She was condemned for becoming a tool in the hands of the Americans and America’s European allies to defame Pakistan. The media was rendered helpless in the face of the serried ranks of the religious parties who tacitly support the Taliban campaign to prevent women in Pakistan from becoming educated.

Just as Obaid-Chinoy’s act of projecting Pakistan ‘in a negative light’ in front of an American audience was taken amiss by conservative Pakistanis suffering from xenophobic symptoms of victimhood, Malala’s case at the United Nations, too, was misinterpreted by elements seeking utopia in a premodern state. The trauma of Pakistan’s acid-throwing activities was registered outside Pakistan, mostly in the Western world moved by humanitarian causes. Inside Pakistan, it fell to the lot of the ‘liberals’ who read English-language newspapers — after the TV channels were literally defeated by the anti-Malala backlash. It is our bad luck that the ideology of those who want to push Pakistan back is the same as the ideology of the state of Pakistan. Ideology has been a coercive tool in the development of states in the 20th century but in our case, it is not the state but the non-state elements that have laced ideology with terror and thus presented a dilemma to the ideological state. It is further bad luck that our women are becoming the foremost victims of this ideology, dooming our future and undermining our capacity to save our country from dying as a state.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 16th, 2012.]]>
			</content:encoded>
			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/480158-acidattack-1355606148/480158-acidattack-1355606148.jpg" class="featured_image"/>
            </image>
			</item><item>
			<title>Australia helps acid victims in Pakistan get back on their feet</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/479623/australia-helps-acid-victims-in-pakistan-get-back-on-their-feet</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/479623/australia-helps-acid-victims-in-pakistan-get-back-on-their-feet#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Fri, 14 Dec 12 05:41:26 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[waqas.naeem]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category><category><![CDATA[World]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=479623</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Acid Survivors Foundation and Jinnah Institute awarded Rs10 million each by Australian govt.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[She refused to sell her children, so he burnt her face with acid.


“Our life has been ruined,” Mai said, about herself and her five children, some of whom were also physically affected in the acid attack by her husband. “We have been condemned to a life worse than death,” she added.

It has been three years since Mai was attacked but despite the difficulties, she hasn’t lost all hope– although she has not been alone in the struggle.

Mai has been receiving support from the Acid Survivors Foundation (ASF), a Pakistani organisation working towards the eradication of acid violence against women. The ASF is one of the two organisations that have received a Rs10 million grant by the Australian government under its annual Human Rights Grant Scheme. The Jinnah Institute is the other organisation.

The grants were announced by Australian Foreign Minister Bob Carr in Australia on the International Human Rights Day on December 10.

While formally handing over the grant rewards during a press conference, Australian High Commissioner Peter Heyward expressed admiration for the dedication the groups had shown in addressing the sensitive issue and promoting human rights. He also lauded the courage the acid survivors have shown at not only raising their voice against the crime, but extending their support against it.

According to a report by the Aurat Foundation, acid attacks against women had soared by 37.5% in 2011 as against 2010. This year, the ASF has noted 95 acid attacks.

“We need to ensure that these 95 victims get justice so that human rights in Pakistan can become a tangible reality,” Valerie Khan Yusufzai, chairperson of the ASF, said in a message which was read by Amenah Hasan at the press conference.

While in Mai’s case her husband was arrested and jailed for 33 years, many offenders of acid violence are never brought to justice.

“In 80% of the cases when the acid survivor goes to the police, the law for acid crimes is ignored,” Executive Director of ASF Mohammad Khan said. “Either they don’t register a case or they book the perpetrators for some other offence.”

Under the Criminal Law (Amendment) Act 2011, offenders can be fined up to Rs1 million and can be imprisoned for life. But the implementation has its own loopholes.

While the ASF plans on spending its grant to ensure the law is implemented nationwide, the Jinnah Institute plans differently.

The Jinnah Institute plans to utilise the grant in creating awareness against the crime. The director of the institute, Raza Rumi, said the grant will be spent over creating awareness of international standards of human rights in school curriculums.

“It is of vital importance that we focus and reenergize our efforts towards correcting the flaws in our educational system,” he said.

Rumi acknowledged that it will be a lengthy and challenging process, but said it needs to begin now.

“We must start the process of educating people and stop complaining about the impossibility of it,” he said.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 14th, 2012. ]]>
			</content:encoded>
			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/479623-Acidattack-1355463627/479623-Acidattack-1355463627.jpg" class="featured_image"/>
            </image>
			</item><item>
			<title>Acid attack: Boy caught in middle of feuding families</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/477505/acid-attack-boy-caught-in-middle-of-feuding-families</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/477505/acid-attack-boy-caught-in-middle-of-feuding-families#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Mon, 10 Dec 12 01:37:46 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[our.correspondent]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=477505</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[The boy was immediately rushed to the basic health unit.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[A 7-year-old boy, Tauqeer Hussain Bozdar, was attacked with acid in Bozdar Muhalla Bozdar Wada on Sunday. According to the boy’s father, Tauqeer’s cousin Farooq Ahmed Bozdar threw the acid because the two families have been engaged in a matrimonial dispute for the past two years. The boy was immediately rushed to the basic health unit. Doctors said that his face and neck were affected but he was out of danger. No case was registered till the filing of this report.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 10th, 2012.]]>
			</content:encoded>
			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/477505-Newsinbriefx-1355080014/477505-Newsinbriefx-1355080014.JPG" class="featured_image"/>
            </image>
			</item><item>
			<title>Tales of brutality: Two acid attacks in Shah Rukn-i-Alam Colony</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/477106/tales-of-brutality-two-acid-attacks-in-shah-rukn-i-alam-colony</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/477106/tales-of-brutality-two-acid-attacks-in-shah-rukn-i-alam-colony#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sat, 08 Dec 12 21:42:56 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[owais.jafri]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=477106</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Doctors fear for BZU student’s eyesight after attack by girl’s brother.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[Two people were thrown acid on in separate incidents at the Shahrukn-i-Alam Colony on Friday night.


Muhammad Zubair, 22, a resident of F-block at Shahrukn-i-Alam Colony, told The Express Tribune that Waleed and another man threw acid on him on Friday night when he opened the door.

He said Waleed was the brother of his Bahauddin Zakaria University classmate Beenish.

He said he had sent a marriage proposal to Beenish’s family but they had rejected the proposal. He said Beenish had refused to abide by her family’s decision.

He said the acid fell in his eyes and he has not been able to see since.

Rescue 1122 staff took Zubair to the Nishtar Hospital emergency ward.

Emergency DMS Dr Marium said the acid had entered the inner part of his eyes. “We are trying to save his eyesight but our hopes are not high,” she said. She said 20 per cent of his body had received acid burns.



Shah Rukn-i-Alam police SHO Mulazim Hussain said an FIR 695/12 has been registered on Zubair’s application against Waleed and an unidentified person.

The other incident occurred at C-block of the colony where a man was accused of throwing acid on his wife on Friday night.

The victim’s father, Muhammad Ahmed, told The Express Tribune that his daughter Fauzia and son-in-law Faheemul Haq had been quarreling for four days ago.

Ahmed said Haq had thrown acid on Fauzia and fled. Some neighbours called Rescue 1122 officials after hearing her screams. Fauzia was taken to the Nishtar Hospital burns unit.

Burns unit incharge Naheed Chaudhry said Fauzia was now out of danger. “More than 20 per cent of the victim’s body has been burnt…we shall keep her under observation,” he said.

Shahrukn-i-Alam police SHO Mulazim Hussain said they had received no application regarding the incident. He denied knowledge of the incident. He said police could not start the investigation without a complaint.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 9th, 2012. ]]>
			</content:encoded>
			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/477106-acid-1355002684/477106-acid-1355002684.jpg" class="featured_image"/>
            </image>
			</item><item>
			<title>Break In: Man attacked with acid</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/475279/break-in-man-attacked-with-acid</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/475279/break-in-man-attacked-with-acid#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Wed, 05 Dec 12 02:51:37 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[our.correspondent]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=475279</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Imran, 28, was brought to the hospital with acid burns Monday night.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[A man was attacked with acid, reportedly at his home in Saddar. Allied Hospital officials told The Express Tribune that Imran, 28, was brought to the hospital with acid burns Monday night.

They said he had told them he had been attacked by unidentified men. Doctors said he was out of danger.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 5th, 2012.]]>
			</content:encoded>
			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/475279-faisalabad-1354645039/475279-faisalabad-1354645039.jpg" class="featured_image"/>
            </image>
			</item><item>
			<title>Acid attacks: Turning a blind eye to laws to curb violence against women</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/474343/acid-attacks-turning-a-blind-eye-to-laws-to-curb-violence-against-women</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/474343/acid-attacks-turning-a-blind-eye-to-laws-to-curb-violence-against-women#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Mon, 03 Dec 12 06:28:37 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[sumera.khan]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=474343</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Survivors’ foundation has been pushing provinces to pass ‘Comprehensive Acid and Burn Crime Bill’ .]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[It takes an easily available bottle of tezaab (acid) worth Rs50, a very angry man and a woman whose life is about to change forever within minutes. 

Acid-throwing does not only disfigure a face or cause injuries that burn and cause excruciating pain; the victim’s life changes forever. If she survives, she neither lives nor dies. Yet, acid attacks are spreading quantitatively and geographically in Pakistan. In 2009, 43 cases were reported to the Acid Survivors Foundation (ASF), Pakistan’s notification unit.

Fifty-five cases were reported in 2010, 150 in 2011, and 93 this year. Many victims remain silent. The conviction rate for acid violence remains as low as 6%, according to the ASF.

An unsaved face

Consequently, stories like that of Nusrat Parveen surface every day. Nusrat, 30, hails from the village of Shehr Sultan in Muzaffargarh, South Punjab. A little over three years ago, as she prepared to go to her mother’s house, her husband, with the help of his family, subjected Nusrat to a horrific acid attack.

This was an act of revenge. Nusrat’s brother had refused an attempted forced marriage to Nusrat’s sister-in-law and her husband’s family reacted very angrily. Nusrat had never foreseen this.

When her face began to burn in searing pain and her burnt clothes began to peel away. Nusrat fled the room screaming, as she realised what had happened. Her husband’s family told the crowd gathering outside her home that she had burnt herself with acid. For over an hour, Nusrat tried to ease the pain by splashing cold water on the burnt areas. When this did not help, her neighbours took her to Victoria Hospital in Bahawalpur. From there she was referred to Nishtar Hospital, Multan, where she stayed for two months.

Despite their best efforts, the doctors couldn’t heal her excessive burns, leaving her lonely, ostracised and afraid.

She was forced to flee without her three children to Islamabad where she found refuge with the ASF, six months after the incident. Irum, the resident physiologist at ASF said, “When Nusrat arrived at the ASF, she had very frequent episodes of crying and sobbing. She would withdraw from everyone around her and repeatedly ask for her family.”

As part of the rehabilitation process, the ASF provides the victims with vocational training so that they can become self-sufficient. An eager and fast learner, Nusrat has shown great aptitude for sewing.

Calling for laws against acid throwing

To mark the 16 days of activism against Violence against Women and Girls (VAWG), this issue is being brought up once again. Over the last seven months, the ASF has been pushing provincial assemblies to pass the ‘Comprehensive Acid and Burn Crime Bill’ to strengthen pro-women legislation to curb violence against them. Although the comprehensive Acid and Burn Crime Bill is currently being processed in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, Punjab and Islamabad Capital Territory, no provincial assembly had tabled this comprehensive acid and burn legislation yet.

In December 2011, the ASF-Pakistan, with support from the UK’s Department for International Development, led a campaign, which resulted in the unanimous passage of the Criminal Law Amendment Act 2011.

Will laws be implemented?

The Criminal Law Amendment Act 2011 made acid and burn violence a crime against the state and imposed a fine of one million Pakistani rupees, along with a punishment of minimum seven years to lifetime imprisonment, for the crime of acid throwing.

The legal milestone was widely welcomed but campaigners say it does not go far enough to eradicate acid violence, arguing that legislation needs to go further to include the trial and rehabilitation process. There is also concern that a lack of monitoring mechanisms will jeopardise effective implementation of the law.

Nusrat and other acid attack victims are currently campaigning with the ASF for the introduction of an Acid and Burn Crime Bill. For this, the civil society, international community and the Government of Pakistan must come together on a single platform.

“I am supporting the cause because I want everyone to be safe. I don’t want anyone to experience what I have gone through.”

Stats and facts

Ninety per cent of the victims of acid attacks have faced a pre-existing form of violence that led to the acid attack.

Between 2007 and 2012, the ASF recorded 786 incidents out of which 62 victims have been provided legal aid thanks in part to UK aid. Since 2008, DFID has provided support to the ASF in Pakistan through the Gender Justice Protection challenge fund.

UK’s support to the ASF has enabled wider lobbying efforts which have helped achieve advocacy and awareness raising, victims’ support and legal aid as well as supporting the first of a three-step legislation (Criminal Law Amendment, comprehensive Acid and Burn Crime Bill, Acid Control Bill).

Published in The Express Tribune, December 3rd, 2012.]]>
			</content:encoded>
			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/474343-logo-1354479051/474343-logo-1354479051.jpg" class="featured_image"/>
            </image>
			</item><item>
			<title>Curbing violence: Rights activists urge govt to pass acid crime bill</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/466892/curbing-violence-rights-activists-urge-govt-to-pass-acid-crime-bill</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/466892/curbing-violence-rights-activists-urge-govt-to-pass-acid-crime-bill#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Fri, 16 Nov 12 23:22:27 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[our.correspondent]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=466892</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Lawmakers say religious scholars need to play their role in reducing such attacks.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[In order to curb growing incidents of acid throwing, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa’s (K-P) civil society has asked the provincial government to pass the Acid and Burn Crime Bill before its tenure ends.


A meeting to discuss the bill was held on Friday by the Acid Survivors Foundation (ASF), End Violence against Women (K-P and Fata), UNAid and UN Women. The seminar was also attended by lawyers, medical specialists and members of the provincial assembly.

A proposed draft of the bill was made, which will be sent to the law department and then to the provincial assembly.

The draft says that a female investigative officer should be appointed to deal with cases of acid throwing and the monitoring board should include personnel from the health department. It also suggested that a monitoring board should be established for the implementation of all laws related to women.

MPA Tabasum Younus Katozai said that easy access to acid has resulted in the growing number of burn cases in the province.

“The crime will be curbed only when the culprits are given severe punishment,” said another MPA Munawar Sultana, adding that religious scholars need to play their due role in this regard. She further added that doctors should provide free treatment to all burn victims.

ASF Co-Chairman Valerie Khan said they had received a number of burn cases in DI Khan, but could not reach the victims because the families did not want to report the cases.

In November 2009, Supreme Court Chief Justice (CJ) Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry addressed the issue in a suo moto case of Naila Farhat.  He said that the government should pass the Acid and Burn Crime Act, which would specifically deal with acid attack cases in terms of prevention and punishment, and the Acid Control Act, to regulate the sale and purchase of acid, as was done by Bangladesh in 2002.

He had also directed the government to give free medical treatment to acid burn victims and provide them legal aid and rehabilitation facilities.

A total of 43 cases of acid throwing were reported in 2009, 55 in 2010 and 155 in 2011. Ten cases were reported in the province in September and October this year.

Salient features of the draft

•     Persons involved in acid attacks should be awarded death penalty or life imprisonment depending on the nature of the crime

•     Courts should direct the government to provide monetary relief for acid victims at any stage of the trial

•     Attempts to carry out an offense of acid or burn attack shall be punishable with a minimum of three years imprisonment and a fine of Rs0.1 million

•     Immediate treatment should be provided to victims at any government or private medical facility. Photographic evidence should be maintained and concerned law enforcement agencies should be contacted

•     Free treatment shall be provided at every government-run medical facility

•     Investigation should be carried out within 14 days

•     Public prosecutors shall be appointed in each province

Published in The Express Tribune, November 17th, 2012.


&nbsp;]]>
			</content:encoded>
			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/466892-Acidattackx-1353107807/466892-Acidattackx-1353107807.jpg" class="featured_image"/>
            </image>
			</item><item>
			<title>Acid attack: Victim’s parents express remorse</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/461962/acid-attack-victims-parents-express-remorse</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/461962/acid-attack-victims-parents-express-remorse#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Wed, 07 Nov 12 05:12:38 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[afp]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=461962</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[I deeply regret my action. I am repenting as I should not have done this, says mother.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[A couple who killed their teenage daughter by dousing her in acid spoke on Tuesday of their sadness and regret at the attack which they said they carried out to protect family “honour”. Both parents have been arrested and Anusha’s mother Zaheen Akhtar, speaking from her police cell in Khoi Ratta, said she feared for the future of the rest of her children.”I deeply regret my action. I am repenting as I should not have done this. She was very innocent. I feel like killing all my kids,” she said, adding that all her children were now left alone and there was no one to take care of them. Akhtar said she and husband Mohammad Zafar feared Anusha would follow in the footsteps of her elder sister who they married off at 16 “because people had been talking about her bad character”. Anusha’s treatment was delayed for two days which the father says was because they couldn’t afford to take her to the hospital.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 7th, 2012.]]>
			</content:encoded>
			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/461962-Newsinbriefx-1352232496/461962-Newsinbriefx-1352232496.JPG" class="featured_image"/>
            </image>
			</item><item>
			<title>Fakhra Yunus case: SHC reissues notice to Bilal Khar</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/461642/fakhra-yunus-case-shc-reissues-notice-to-bilal-khar</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/461642/fakhra-yunus-case-shc-reissues-notice-to-bilal-khar#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Tue, 06 Nov 12 14:19:51 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[web.desk]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Sindh]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=461642</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Bilal, son of PPP leader Ghulam Mustafa Khar, was acquitted earlier because eyewitnesses refused to identify him.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[The Sindh High Court reissued notice to Bilal Mustafa Khar, prime suspect in the Fakhra Yunus acid attack case on Tuesday.

Bilal, son of PPP stalwart Ghulam Mustafa Khar, has been directed to file comments before December 6.

Seven months after the victim had committed suicide in Italy, where she had undergone multiple face reconstruction surgeries, three non-government organisations (NGOs) have challenged acquittal of the suspect in the high court.

The NGOs have also sought effective implementation of the newly enacted criminal laws regarding investigation of crimes against women, especially acid attacks.

Pakistan Institute of Labour Education and Research, Shirkat Gah and Pakistan Fisherfolk Forum filed a petition through Advocate Faisal Siddiqui.

They have named the Sindh Home Secretary, Law Secretary and Bilal as respondents.

Siddiqui said there were four eyewitnesses to Bilal’s crime, including the victim’s own son.

But the suspect was acquitted by the Sessions Judge, South, Karachi because the four eyewitnesses refused to identify him in the court of law, allegedly due to his influence, the NGOs’ advocate added.

Siddiqui contended that the trial court had also failed to consider the evidence available on record, as the same was sufficient to convict the accused.

The lawyer pointed out that the government had enacted the Criminal Law (Second Amendment) Act 2011, through which necessary amendments were made to the law to control crimes against women. Hence Yunus’s case should be re-investigated under the guidelines of the new law.

The lawyer prayed to the court to get the entire record of the Yunus’s case from the trial court, examine it and then remand back to the concerned court for retrial.

The case

In 1998, Yunus was an 18 year old resident of Napier Road’s Bulbul Bazar, Karachi’s red light district, when she met the then Muzaffargarh MPA Bilal Khar.

They both got married after a six month relationship. This was Bilal’s third marriage, while Yunus had a three year old son from an earlier liaison.

Little did Yunus know, that this was not meant to be her fairytale marriage, since shortly after the marriage, she faced both physical and mental abuse by Khar, which lasted for three years before she eventually escaped and moved in with her mother.

An infuriated Khar allegedly took ‘revenge’ by pouring acid over her on May 14, 2000, as her five year old son watched. The attack left her severely burned, particularly her face. She, however, survived the attack but not before spending three months in intensive care.

Khar used his political influence to evade arrest and absconded, while Yunus’s family faced difficulty in registering an FIR against him.

On October 31, 2002, Khar was eventually arrested, but released in 2003 on Rs 200,000 bail.

In Yunus’ time of despair, social activist Tehmina Durrani came to the forefront to assist her. Durrani, ironically, was once married to Ghulam Mustafa Khar.

After the then government showed reluctance in helping Yunus, Durrani convinced the Italian government to help her, by not only providing asylum but also sponsoring her treatment there. Khar, leveraging his influence, had vehemently tried to stop her exit from Pakistan, but failed.

After over a decade of undergoing treatment in Italy, an emotionally scarred Fakhra, lost hope and committed suicide by jumping out of her sixth floor residence.

Khar currently resides in his ancestral home in Kot Addu.]]>
			</content:encoded>
			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/461642-fakhrayounus-1352210848/461642-fakhrayounus-1352210848.JPG" class="featured_image"/>
            </image>
			</item><item>
			<title>Woman claims daughter was ‘fated’ to die in acid attack</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/461461/woman-claims-daughter-was-fated-to-die-in-acid-attack</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/461461/woman-claims-daughter-was-fated-to-die-in-acid-attack#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Tue, 06 Nov 12 04:53:39 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[afp]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=461461</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Anusha suffered terrible burns when parents threw acid on her.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[A woman, who helped her husband kill their teenage daughter by dousing her with acid after seeing her talking to a boy, has told the BBC it was the girl’s destiny to die in this way.


Police in Azad Jammu and Kashmir arrested Muhammad Zafar and his wife Zaheen for the October 29 attack on their daughter Anusha, 15, who died in hospital two days later after suffering horrific acid burns.

The incident took place in Khoi Ratta district, 140 kilometres north of the state capital, Muzaffarabad.

Local police officer Tahir Ayub had told AFP that Zafar had suspicions about his daughter and became enraged when he saw her with a boy outside their home.

Speaking from their police cells, the father told the BBC they had warned Anusha before about looking at boys, while the mother described how her daughter had begged for forgiveness. “She said, ‘I didn’t do it on purpose, I won’t do it again’,” Zaheen, whose own arm bore an injury from the acid, said. “By then I had thrown the acid. It was her destiny to die this way.”

The parents waited two days to take Anusha to hospital. Doctor Mohammad Jahangir of the Kotli hospital has confirmed the death, telling AFP the teenager arrived in a “very critical condition” with almost 70% burns.

Anusha’s married elder sister had alerted police and demanded an investigation. Subsequently, Ayub had said that the police registered a murder case against them after confessing the crime for suspecting her of having “illicit relations” with the boy. 

Published in The Express Tribune, November 6th, 2012.]]>
			</content:encoded>
			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/461461-Acidattackx-1352177447/461461-Acidattackx-1352177447.jpg" class="featured_image"/>
            </image>
			</item><item>
			<title>Kashmir acid attack: Girl fated to die this way, says mother</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/461036/kashmir-acid-attack-girl-fated-to-die-this-way-says-mother</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/461036/kashmir-acid-attack-girl-fated-to-die-this-way-says-mother#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Mon, 05 Nov 12 09:25:35 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[afp]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=461036</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Father says he had warned Anusha before about looking at boys, mother says daughter had begged for forgiveness.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[A mother who killed her teenage daughter by dousing her with acid for looking at a boy has told the BBC it was the girl's destiny to die in this way.

Police in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) arrested Mohammad Zafar and his wife Zaheen for the October 29 attack on their daughter Anusha, 15, who died in hospital two days later after suffering horrific acid burns.

So-called "honour" attacks are common in Pakistan. Rights activists say more than 900 women were murdered last year after being accused of bringing shame on the family in some way.

Speaking from their police cells, the father told the BBC they had warned Anusha before about looking at boys, while the mother described how her daughter had begged for forgiveness.

"She said, 'I didn't do it on purpose, I won't do it again," the mother, whose own arm bore an injury from the acid, told the BBC.

"By then I had thrown the acid. It was her destiny to die this way."

The parents waited two days to take Anusha to hospital. A doctor told AFP the teenager arrived in a "very critical condition" with almost 70 percent burns.]]>
			</content:encoded>
			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/461036-Acidattackx-1352114240/461036-Acidattackx-1352114240.jpg" class="featured_image"/>
            </image>
			</item>	</channel>
                </rss>
