Transgender acid attack victim to undergo surgery

Victim was attacked in Rahim Yar Khan and has now been shifted to Jinnah Hospital, Lahore

LAHORE: A transgender person, who was the victim of an acid attack in Rahim Yar Khan, has been shifted to Jinnah Hospital, Lahore for treatment. The victim’s face will be operated on in the next few days. Police have arrested the culprit behind the incident.



Reportedly, accused Abdul Rehman threw acid on the victim, identified as Chahat, after the two had an argument in Rehmat Colony, Rahim Yar Khan. As a result of the acid attack, Chahat suffered burns on her face and chest.

She was initially taken to a local hospital but has now been shifted to the burn unit at Jinnah Hospital, Lahore where she will undergo surgery.

Speaking to The Express Tribune, another transgender person Alishbah highlighted that the accused broke into the victim’s home and threw acid on her. She revealed that she was also present during this time. After throwing the acid, the accused managed to escape from the scene, she said.

Duty officer at the B Division police station Hidayatullah said that a case has been registered against the accused. He maintained that special police teams conducted raids and arrested the accused who has been sent to jail. The case is under trail in the Anti-Terrorism Court, he said.

Meanwhile, the victim said that she is facing difficulty in seeing after the acid attack. However, now she can see better than before. She expressed happiness over the fact she has been shifted to Lahore for better medical treatment.

Meanwhile, Pakistan Baitul Mal (PBM) Member Sheikh Farrukh Zubair visited the victim on Wednesday. Speaking to the media, he revealed that PBM will bear all the victim’s medical expenses.

He condemned the attack and termed it as an inhumane act of terrorism. “The government will eliminate such heinous crimes by introducing effective legislation,” he said.



He said that the best medical facilities are being provided to the victim at Jinnah Hospital. He maintained that PBM MD Aun Abbas Bappi had taken notice of the incident and had the victim shifted to Jinnah Hospital. He added that currently doctors will treat the victim’s face and the surrounding skin. Once that is complete, they will start treating her eyes. PBM Director Muhammad Zaheer said that the department will continue to fund the victim’s medical expenses until she has fully recovered.

*additional input from app

Published in The Express Tribune, July 11^th, 2019.