Acid burning: Man accused of throwing acid at mother-in-law

Victim loses vision in her right eye, suffers burns on over 60 per cent of her body.

MUZAFFARGARH:

A woman lost an eye in an acid attack in Jatoi on Wednesday night allegedly by her son-in-law who blamed her for a strained relationship with his wife.

Dr Akmal, who treated the woman at a burn unit in Nishter Hospital in Multan, told The Express Tribune that more than 60 per cent of the victim’s body was burnt. He said she had lost vision in her right eye. “We are monitoring the left eye. The injury in the left eye does not appear to be so serious to pose an immediate threat to her vision,” he added.

The victim has been under treatment at Nishter Hospital since Wednesday night. She was referred to Nishter Hospital by doctors at Jatoi tehsil headquarters (THQ) hospital.

An FIR has been registered against the suspect, Abdul Malik*, at Jatoi police station under Section 324 of the Pakistan Penal Code and Section 7 of the Anti-Terrorism Act. Talking to The Tribune at the hospital, the victim said she was attacked while she slept on Thursday night. “He fled before I could wake others up to catch him,” she said.

She said the suspect had accused her of encouraging her daughter Nabila* to speak up in front of him. “He said I had ruined their relationship. I want my daughter and her husband to have a good relationship but I can’t be a silent spectator is she is ill-treated,” she said.

She said she had taken Nabila to her home in Basti Gowaan on Thursday morning after the latter called her and informed her about a quarrel with her husband.

Nabila had only returned with Malik two days ago on Tuesday after the couple settled their differences in a gathering of elders of both families at Nabila’s parents’ home. She had been staying at her parents’ home for over a week.

Victim’s father Ishaq*, who was present at the Tuesday meeting, said the suspect had accused her of encouraging Nabila to speak up in front of him.

“He wanted us to cut all ties with the girl (Nabila),” he said.  He said he had threatened the family with dire consequences if they continued to interfere in their matters.

He said Malik and Nabila had had a strained relationship since their marriage two years ago. He said Nabila was now staying at their home with her three-month old son.

*Names have been changed to protect victim’s identity.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 31^st, 2012.