‘Burning’ revenge: After killing son, suspects throw acid on father

The family has been pursuing the fatal acid attack on their son in the lower courts.

KARACHI: The same men, who threw acid on a man and killed him, attacked his father in the same manner to threaten them from pursuing the case in court.

Shahbaz Nawaz was attacked on June 15 last year in the premises of the city courts allegedly by some of his relatives. He succumbed to his burns on August 23 of the same year. On Tuesday afternoon, the same suspects have thrown acid on his 50-year-old father, Imtiaz, outside Madina Masjid in Akhtar Colony.



According to the doctors, Imtiaz received 10 per cent burns injuries. “Though he has only 10 per cent burns injuries, acid burns are always considered serious,” said Dr Muneer, the resident medical officer of Civil hospital’s burns centre. Imtiaz’ eye, face, arms and chest are affected. “He may lose sight in his left eye,” he feared.

The family had lodged an FIR at Mehmoodabad police station. They also staged a protest outside the Sindh IGP police, where Shahid Nadeem Baloch assured them the accused will be traced. “We’ll protest in front of the Supreme Court Karachi registry if we are not given protection and the accused are not detained,” warned a relative of Imtiaz.

Forced into hiding

Meanwhile, Shahbaz’s wife Farah has been forced into hiding. Twelve months have passed since she lost her husband but her ordeal continues. She continues to face the law enforcing agencies and the courts as she fights the cases lodged against her by the same relatives who attacked Shahbaz. After getting nominated in four more cases, Farah has been forced to leave her apartment in DHA’s Badar Commercial and move to an undisclosed location.



Her three children - eight-year-old Umema, six-year-old Hasan and four-year-old Hamza - have not visited school during the past whole year as Farah cannot afford to pay their fee. “My priority is to keep them secure because they [opponents] could harm my children too.”

“There is no justice,” she said, regretfully. “It is only for those who have influence or have wealth. Neither the courts nor politicians and civil society organisations help one who is already oppressed.” After sending several applications to the Chief Justice of Pakistan, the high court, Sindh IGP, the governor and the chief minister, Farah has lost all hope. “No one replied.”

Farah informed that four new cases had been lodged against her at Ibrahim Hyderi, Jackson, City Court and Surjani police stations. “The enemies are trying to lodge new cases against me, including attempt to murder and kidnapping,” she added.

“It is common that an oppressed is not given justice on time or it is denied,” claimed Mahnaz Rahman of the Aurat Foundation. Rahman said that the system in lower courts is miserable.

Rahman was not satisfied with the bar associations who cried for judicial freedom but never seek justice for the common people. “Why do lawyers’ organisations stay quiet on the issues of the poor and women? Why is the judicial system not active at the lower levels?” She said that such injustice will continue until and unless visible reforms are introduced at lower level.

Farah sees, however, little hope for justice. She admitted she contemplates suicide and leaving her children at the mercy of the society. “No one listens to me. People should at least look at my innocent children who still wait for their father to come home.”

Published in The Express Tribune, September 19^th, 2013.