Acid attack: With a body burnt, robbery victim seeks justice

Khurram’s treatment is unaffordable for his family and the police remain deaf to his family’s pleas.

ISLAMABAD: The utility of the recently introduced citizens’ feedback cell at the police stations in Rawalpindi remains in doubt as the common man has to rely on the chief justice and the chief minister to get cases registered. In a similar case, the victim’s family has suffered and waited, but justice remains hard to come by.

A few days ago, three armed motorcyclists snatched cash and a cell phone from a man, Khurram Shahzad on Malpur Road. When Shahzad resisted, the masked motorcyclists threw acid at him and fled with Rs30,000 in cash and a cell phone with them.

Although, his face remained safe, the acid affected lower parts of Khurram’s body. He was taken to Holy Family Hospital in critical condition, where after basic treatment, doctors asked the patient to shift to another hospital as they lacked the required facilities.

The victim’s family lodged a complaint with the New Town police, but no action was taken. After waiting for a week, the mother of the victim appealed to Chief Justice of Pakistan Iftikhar Chaudhry and Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif to take notice of the incident and provide them with justice.

The family sold all their valuables for Khurram’s treatment in Lahore. As treatment costs far exceed the family’s finances, Khurram’s condition has also started deteriorating.

While talking The Express Tribune, Mrs Riaz, a resident of Nazimabad near New Malpur said that Khurram, 30, was on his way back home after withdrawing Rs30,000 from an ATM machine, when two armed motorcyclists intercepted him and tried to snatch the cash. When he resisted, they threw acid at him and fled after taking away the cash, his cell phone and other valuables. She said that the family did not have the required finances to get Khurram treated.

The New Town Police Station policeman who was on duty at the time refuted the allegations of the victim’s family and said they did not receive any such application. Similarly, the station house officer could not be contacted for comments.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 20^th,  2011.