The prevalence of acid violence in Pakistan is a stark reflection of deep-rooted societal and institutional shortcomings, indicating the state’s failure to enforce laws effectively and a culture that suppresses women through brutal attacks. Acid assaults, often preceded by threats or harassment, are preventable acts of violence, yet Pakistani authorities have faltered in monitoring risk factors, regulating acid sales, and providing sustained assistance to victims, as per a report in the Sri Lankan newspaper Daily Mirror.
A recent incident at Quetta’s Civil Hospital on June 6 saw Dr. Mahnoor Nasir, a young physician, becoming a victim of acid violence while on duty. The attacker, a hospital employee, severely burned 70% of her body, including her face, chest, and legs, in a horrifying assault. This incident underscores the inadequate security measures that allowed such a tragic event to unfold within a medical facility, as strongly criticized by Pakistan’s Young Doctors Association.
The report emphasizes that such attacks are not isolated incidents but part of a broader pattern of violence against women in Pakistan. Cases like the attack on a 17-year-old girl in the Ghotki district, a schoolteacher in Lahore, a policewoman in Karachi, and others illustrate a disturbing trend of using acid as a tool for vengeance, control, and patriarchal dominance. Despite legislative efforts like the Criminal Law (Amendment) Bill 2011, which aimed to curb acid attacks, the sale of acid remains unregulated, with the substance easily accessible at low costs in chemist shops.
These incidents collectively paint a grim picture of the pervasive nature of acid violence in Pakistan, where women are left disfigured and traumatized for reasons ranging from rejecting advances to asserting their autonomy. The legislative response, while claiming progress, has fallen short in addressing the comprehensive needs of victims, leaving families burdened with the overwhelming costs and emotional toll of treatment. Despite an estimated 80 acid attacks reported annually in Pakistan, experts caution that the actual numbers could be higher due to underreporting fueled by stigma and deficiencies in tracking mechanisms.
