Acid attack: Suspect’s family held ‘for questioning’

Two of four women attacked by acid discharged from DHQ hospital after first aid, two will remain under treatment .

FAISALABAD:

Ghulam Muhammadabad police have taken into custody a woman and her two sons for interrogation about the whereabouts of her third son who is accused of throwing acid on four women.

SHO Waheed Shahid told The Express Tribune that the police had raided several places in Khurarrianwala based on information gleaned from the family on Sunday but did not find the suspect, Kashif, a resident of Bahmani Wala.

The SHO said a team had been formed following directions from DCO Naseem Sadiq, SP (Operations) Sadiq Ali Dogar and SSP (Lyallpur Town) Zahid Mehmood Gondal to investigate the case. He said the suspect’s mother, Fatima Bibi, and his brothers would be released shortly. He said they were being held for interrogation. “We have not booked the women or her two sons yet. They have been held to pressure the suspect into surrendering,” he said.

The FIR registered on a complaint filed by Nazir Ahmad, father of Alina*, one of the four victims, stated that Kashif intercepted Alina, 18, and her colleagues Saadia*,  13, Faiza*, 18, and Rafia*,20, in front of a garments factory on Kashmir Road on Saturday night where the women worked. It said the suspect threw acid at them following an argument with Alina over his proposal for marriage.

The women were leaving the factory after finishing their work shift. They were later taken to Allied Hospital where Saadia and Rafia were discharged after first aid. The other two were still under treatment at the hospital. Doctors said they were now out of danger. They said the women had minor burn injuries on their face, back and arms.

The FIR has been registered against the suspect under Sections 324, 34 of the Pakistan Penal Code and Section 7 of the Anti Terrorism Act.

Complainant Nazir Ahmad told The Tribune that he had turned down Kashif’s proposal for his daughter because he did not have a decent job. “I could not give away my daughter to someone who cannot sustain a family,” he said. Ahmed said his family had told Kashif to abandon the idea when he first approached them.

*Names have been changed to protect identity of the victims

Published in The Express Tribune, February 20^th, 2012.