Unregulated sale enables rampant acid attacks in Karachi

KARACHI: In metropolises like Karachi, street crimes and domestic violence are rampant, but seldom do they leave a scar as heinous as those left by acid attackers.

In one particular case, several surgery procedures and medical treatments were performed to heal an acid attack victim who worked as a schoolteacher in Karachi.

Nevertheless, she continues to deal with the trauma she experienced when her assaulter, a former colleague, threw acid on her and fled the crime scene saying “This is a punishment for you.”

“Imagine if someone throws acid on someone’s face, and you are witness of the heinous crime. I was told that this assault is most easiest way to settle the score instead of someone spraying bullets on me. I survived the acid attack, but it is unbelievable my former colleague threw acid on my face after I refused his marriage proposal.”

 “Sometimes I am hopeless. But I am grateful my family did not let me live alone to face the trauma,” the acid attack survivor commented.

According to renowned make-up artist Masarrat Misbah, who runs an organization to protect and take care of acid victims, “One cannot imagine the gravity of the situation as we dealt with 67 cases of acid and kerosene oil attacks last year.

 “I am only compiling the data of [those] who come to us. There are many who died and take procedures in other relevant institutions,” she commented, adding that “The problem [is] that the government should form uniform policy and prohibit the open sale of acid.

“The number is not important, but we have to change the mindset of the people and raise awareness about acid victims,” she added.

There are many more cases to reflect the severity of the situation as six cases of acid throwing have been reported only in Karachi during the past 45 days.

In a recent case, Korangi police investigation suggested that 47-year-old Ghulam Mustafa, alias Saima used to live with another transgender person named Qaiser, who allegedly threw acid on Saima after accusing her of cheating on her. Suspect Qaiser fled the crime scene after allegedly committing the crime.

In another case, a woman threw acid on her former husband as he refused to remarry her. The suspect was also disturbed over the idea that her ex-husband was considering marrying someone else.

There are several other cases including one in which a man attacked his wife with acid as she refused to stop making TikTok videos while a man threw acid on his ex-wife after she filed for divorce.

Unfortunately, within the span of less than two weeks, there were three such cases and the total incidents in less than two months reached six. As many as three of the acid attacks had occurred in September and two such attacks in August.

The legal situation

Lawyer Asiya Munir, who dealt with several cases of acid attacks told Bol News that the death penalty was the punishment for those who attack people with acid. “However, we have experienced that most of these cases go unpunished as most victims do not want to register cases against the culprits due to family pressure and social stigma.”

She asserted, “It is very important to raise voice collectively in order to try to put an end to this [crime] and to provide a motivation to the government to implement and enforce legislation. We as a nation always blame girls. Unfortunately, people ruin their lives and go free.”

Speaking about the easy availability of acid at shops, she pointed out that it was as easy to buy acid as it was to buy groceries. “There should be laws to restrict the sale of acid.”

Unfortunately there is no law that prohibits the sale of acid to anyone, she stated. “If someone buys the acid they must submit their ID cards or should be sold only for those who are recommended. We must educate the public about violence against women with an emphasis on acid and kerosene burn victims,” she stressed.

The psychiatric perspective

Dr Beenish Shoro, head of the psychiatric department at a Sindh government hospital, stated that people who were involved in these kinds of incidents usually suffer from antisocial personality disorder.

“They violate the life of others without having remorse, guilt or empathy,” she said.

She further said, “In layman terms, they are psychopaths. They lack the ability to distinguish between right and wrong. They have strong manipulative behaviours. They have a tendency to lie, deceive and hurt others. They can get angry, violent or aggressive on minor issues. They are impulsive and hostile, and they often violate the law, lack general regard and responsibility as a human being towards society, they usually end up in prison, criminal organisation or drug and alcohol addiction.”

Unfortunately these people were unlikely to seek help on their own, she added. “They have poor relationships with family, friends and colleagues. Although some of them can be managed by psychotherapy, but in our society where still major psychiatric illnesses remain untreated due to lack of resources and qualified professionals, it’s just a pipe dream.”

Early recognition, extensive behaviour therapy and provision of qualified professionals and institutes is the best way to deal with this menace, the psychiatrist highlighted.

Names have been changed to protect privacy.