Woman injured in acid attack in Karachi’s Upper Gizri, police say

KARACHI: A 35-year-old woman was injured in an acid attack in Karachi’s Upper Gizri area on Thursday, police said.

According to police, an unidentified person threw acid at the woman near Nasir Filter Plant in Upper Gizri, within the jurisdiction of Clifton police station, leaving her with burn injuries.

She was taken to the Burns Centre at Civil Hospital, Karachi, in an Edhi ambulance for treatment. Police said further investigation was underway.

Police surgeon Dr Summaiya Syed told Dawn that the woman had sustained burns over 15 per cent of her face, neck and abdomen.

Meanwhile, South Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) Syed Asad Raza said the woman’s husband lived in Punjab with another wife, while her three sons also lived with their father there.

According to the DIG, the woman worked at a bungalow in Clifton and was returning home in Upper Gizri when an unidentified suspect attacked her with acid.

“Police are trying to obtain CCTV footage to ascertain the possible identity of the attacker and determine the motive behind the attack,” he said.

Sindh Home Minister Ziaul Hassan Lanjar has taken “strict notice” of the acid attack on the woman and sought an immediate and detailed report from the South senior superintendent of police (SSP), according to a statement issued by his office.

The home minister directed police to use all available resources to ensure the immediate arrest of the suspect and take legal action to bring him to justice.

Lanjar also ordered a comprehensive investigation into the incident and directed officials to ascertain the facts and bring them to light at the earliest, the statement said.

“He also directed the authorities to investigate the motive behind the attack and identify any individuals or elements involved in the incident,” it said, adding that the home minister had instructed officials to ensure that the victim received the best possible medical treatment and that all possible legal and administrative assistance was extended to her and her family.

Lanjar said a zero-tolerance policy should be adopted against those involved in serious crimes such as acid attacks, stressing that no negligence or delay in arresting the suspect would be tolerated.

“He directed the South SSP to personally supervise the investigation and keep him updated on its progress. He also instructed officials to ensure that all legal requirements for providing justice to the victim were completed promptly,” the statement said.

Earlier in June, 29-year-old Mahnoor Nasir was seriously injured at the Quetta Civil Hospital when another employee threw acid on her. The attacker, later identified by police as Humayun Shah, was said to have been kil­led in an encounter after law enforcers tra­ced him as he attempted to flee on a bus.

Meanwhile, Dr Nasir was shifted to Karachi after receiving initial treatment in Quetta.

In August, in a landmark judgement, the Supreme Court declared acid attacks more heinous than homicide, describing them as crimes that condemn victims to a “living death”.