Faisalabad sees increase in acid attack, burning cases

Six cases have been dropped owing to agreement between parties and flexibility in the law

FAISALABAD: During the current year, at least 16 incidents of acid attacks and cases of burning of women were reported in the city. In most cases, women were either attacked with acid or set ablaze over honour. In total, six of the victims lost their lives. However, the irony is that cases of six out of 16 such brutal incidents have been dropped due to an agreement between the two parties and owing to the flexibility in law.

Besides, challans have been presented before the court in just eight cases, while two are pending as investigations are still under way, Express News has learnt.

Social activists and experts said that acid attacks and setting women on fire are one of the worst forms of gender-based violence in Pakistan. They added these heinous acts are usually instigated by family disputes, refusal of a marriage proposal and family ‘honour’ issues. Perpetrators usually intend to disfigure rather than kill their victims, resulting in lifelong bodily disfigurement. Their aim is to inflict severe emotional and psychological trauma, they maintained.

In terms of the way forward, the widespread availability of acids and chemicals is one of the major reasons behind such attacks, experts highlighted. The sale of acid should be banned or at least regulated so no more lives are destroyed, they opined.

Earlier in February 2016, the Punjab Assembly unanimously approved the Protection of Women against Violence Bill, calling for an end to all criminalities against women such as domestic violence, acid attack, rape, psychological and economic abuse, stalking and cyber-crimes. The 31 clauses of the new bill provide an efficient system for complaint registration and penalties for offenders.

The new law emerges as a saving mechanism for prevention, combating and eradication of violence against women. The rate of violence against women throughout the country paints a very gloomy picture.

There are instances where husbands have attacked their wives and cut their noses, lips and ears after domestic disputes. Such incidents occurred in different cities such as Faisalabad, Bahawalpur, and various parts of the province.

In Pakistan, women can be murdered merely for giving birth to girls, burnt in fake incidents of stove burning, suffer acid attacks, rapes, spousal abuse, forced abortions, forced prostitution, acute domestic violence and swapped for settlements.

Unfortunately, most of these crimes go unreported due to lack of women independence and weak legal and justice framework. These dreadful instances highlight the sufferings of women in the name of cultural and religious norms that male dominated societies endorse.

Incidents reported in 2018

 

• On January 16, accused named Qasim threw acid on his wife Sadia over


• honour in Dijkot police station precincts.

 

• On January 23, accused Sajjad set ablaze a woman Hina Kausar over a dispute in Samundri police jurisdiction.

 

• On January 26, a girl named Shumaila was burnt to death in the area of Balochni police station.

 

• On April 17, culprit Babar and others threw acid on Asia Bibi in the area of Thekriwala area.

 

• On April 10, burnt body of an unidentified woman was found in the area of Sadar police jurisdiction.

 

• On April 18, Daughter of Sajida Bibi was burnt to death in the area of Sargodha Road police station limits.

 

• On April 22, victim Khatija was attacked with acid in the area of Gulam Mehmoodabad police station precincts.

 

• On May 9, a man named Shehzad burnt his wife in Sandal Bar area.

 

• On May 31, an unidentified dead body was found in Saddar police station jurisdiction, Juranwala. The case is still under investigation.

 

• On July 12, Nusrat Bibi suffered burn injuries in an acid attack incident in Dijkot police area.

 

• On September 19, an unidentified burnt body was found in City Samandri police limits. This case is also in under investigation.

 

• On November 16, accused Ikram threw acid on a girl within Jhang Bazar police station.