Teenage Girl in Critical Condition After Acid Attack in Sahiwal

In a harrowing incident in Sahiwal, Punjab, a teenage girl was hospitalized in critical condition after a boy allegedly attacked her with acid for not responding to his phone calls. The police have registered a case and taken the accused, identified as Usman, into custody.

According to the First Information Report (FIR), the suspect had intended to marry the 16-year-old girl and reportedly tried to gift her a cellphone. When her parents refused the proposal, he allegedly resorted to violence, throwing acid on her, causing severe injuries.

This incident echoes a disturbing pattern of acid attacks in Pakistan. On May 15, another acid attack took place in Karachi, where a man threw acid on his wife, a police constable, in the Saeedabad area before fleeing with their child.

Acid attacks were first outlawed in Pakistan in 2011 with legislation mandating severe penalties, including life imprisonment and substantial fines. In 2012, further amendments moved these cases to anti-terrorism courts, which are known for delivering stricter sentences. Despite these legal provisions, acid attacks continue to be a pressing issue in the country.

The recent incident in Sahiwal underscores the need for sustained efforts to enforce laws and protect victims from such horrific violence.