Amid the colorful traditions and deeply rooted cultural norms that define Pakistan, the heartbreaking reality of acid attacks casts a dark shadow on the lives of many, especially women. This serves as a reflection of the deeply rooted issues such as gender inequality, systemic misogyny, and power imbalances in the country. These attacks are not just impulsive acts of anger, rage, or revenge, they are often calculated attempts to destroy a person’s identity and their place in society which is often fueled by societal and cultural pressures [1]. ASF (Acid Survivor Foundation) estimates that approximately 200 acid attacks take place annually in Pakistan, and the victims are overwhelmingly women [2]. While human rights workers, activists, and national and international organizations have made considerable attempts to raise awareness and fight for the victims, the reality is that acid attacks remain an ongoing crisis in Pakistan. This article is divided into three parts. The first will focus on social and cultural rationales behind these attacks, the second will focus on the implications of the attacks and the third will highlight legislative development on the matter.
Part I: Rationales Behind Acid Attacks
Acid attacks are among the most horrific forms of violence, leaving deep physical and emotional scars on their victims. These assaults involve the use of corrosive substances like acids, which are thrown on individuals to disfigure, intimidate, and cause immense harm. What makes these attacks even more tragic is that they often stem from a combination of complex social, cultural, psychological, and economic factors. One of the most prominent and heartbreaking reasons behind these violent acts is gender inequality, with women often being the primary targets of such cruelty.
The same was illustrated in the case of Najaf Sultana, a five-year-old girl who was burnt by her father while she was sleeping because he didn’t want to have another girl in the family [3]. In many cases, women who seek independence, challenge traditional norms, reach out for their education and employment, or reject unwanted sexual advances may be targeted. Acid attacks often occur when women refuse marriage proposals, attempt to leave abusive relationships, disrespect their partners, or act in ways that defy the traditional expectations of their communities. In the majority of the cases, the attackers are the men who feel that their honor or ego has been compromised by a woman’s refusal to marry them or they have been wronged, insulted, and betrayed by a friend, relative, or colleague.
An example of this is the case of Nusrat, a 30-year-old woman from a remote village in Muzaffargarh, South Punjab who suffered from an acid attack on July 11, 2009, as her brother refused to give her hand in marriage [4]. These actions stem from deep personal grievances, especially where emotions like anger, jealousy, unrequited love, or unresolved disputes are involved, hence men resort to acid as an extreme form of retaliation. For some men, the act of disfiguring the women with acid is seen as a way to “mark” the person and make them “pay” for their perceived wrongdoing. The intent behind these attacks is not just physical harm but also the destruction of the victim’s sense of self-worth and to diminish their social value.
In cases of familial disputes and conflicts between in-laws, family members can escalate into violent acts, with acid being a preferred weapon. Shehnaz Usman was burned with acid by a relative due to a familial dispute in 2017[5]. As reported by BBC it is estimated that more than 150 women have acid thrown on them every year usually by husbands or in-laws and many never get justice [6]. In Pakistani culture, since arranged marriages are common the concept of preserving family honor is crucial. If a woman is perceived to have dishonored her family in any way, whether that is through a sexual assault, an extramarital affair, or simply by engaging in behavior deemed inappropriate, an acid attack may be seen as a way to restore the family’s reputation.
One practical yet important factor contributing to the prevalence of acid attacks is the easy availability of dangerous substances like sulfuric acid and hydrochloric acid. These are sold openly in markets, often for industrial use. These substances are openly sold, cheap, readily accessible, and not heavily regulated, which makes them a convenient weapon for individuals seeking to carry out attacks. Perpetrators often choose acid because it is a quick, effective way to cause severe and lasting damage. The corrosive nature of acid permanently disfigures the victim by causing severe and lasting damage.
Moreover, in many cases, men have underlying mental health issues, including feelings of inadequacy, jealousy, and unhealthy obsession. Due to this, individuals may lash out with acid because they cannot handle rejection, emotional distress, anger management, narcissism, and the frustration of being unable to control certain aspects of their lives. This can be seen in the case of Shameem Akhter, she was raped by three boys at the age of 19 who then threw acid on her [7]. Additionally, the lack of effective laws and corruption in Pakistan means that perpetrators of acid attacks are often able to act with impunity. This perpetuates a culture of violence and intimidation, even where attacks are reported the offenders are often able to get away without punishments and the system fails to adequately protect the victims. Addressing the root causes of acid attacks requires a complicated approach that can deal with societal norms, promote gender equality, strengthen legal protections, and work to change the underlying cultural attitudes that disregard such violence.
Part II: Implications of Acid Attacks
The most immediate and visible effects of acid attacks are the severe physical injuries suffered by the victims however acid attacks also leave a long-lasting effect on the society as a whole. The acid burns penetrate deep into the skin, and damage muscles, nerves, and even bones. Survivors endure excruciating pain as the acid continues to burn their flesh long after the attack and at times victims lose key bodily functions, such as facial burns often lead to blindness, while attacks targeting limbs can result in permanent disability.
A victim named Raheela Raheem was 16 years old when she was attacked with acid by a man from her neighborhood in Karachi, Pakistan. The highly corrosive acid damaged her face, neck, and arms, causing severe facial disfigurement and the permanent loss of one eye [8]. Even after reconstructive surgeries complete recovery is impossible as scars remain on their bodies forever. A girl from Karachi, Meuma Khan had to undergo 21 plastic surgeries after the attack.
Beyond physical damage, such violent assault leaves victims grappling with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, anxiety, nightmares, and constant fear of sudden harm. Due to disfiguring and disabilities, acid attack survivors face intense feelings of shame and self-consciousness and isolate themselves from social interactions [9]. Psychological counseling is often unavailable in rural areas of Pakistan and victims are left to cope with the trauma alone that leads to long-term emotional distress and suicidal thoughts. The survivors are then shunned by society as being damaged or undesirable. Friends and even family members may distance themselves, either out of shame or fear of being associated with the victim. An example of this is Fakhra Younis, a former dancing girl in Karachi, was one such woman, who ended her life to escape suffering after she had to endure 40 rounds of surgery [10].
Moreover, the financial burden of reconstructive surgeries medications and follow-up care further pushes economically disadvantaged families into poverty. Physical disabilities and social stigma further make it challenging for survivors to secure employment or pursue education. However, there has been a job scheme for acid attack survivors to work at beauty salons. Currently, seven such women are working in duplex salons [11].
Many survivors are then forced to rely on different charitable organizations or NGOs for support, creating a cycle of dependency. These incidents also leave a profound impact on their families and communities. Families of survivors often bear the financial and emotional burden of supporting their loved ones, they often face years of dealing with the survivor’s ongoing medical needs, legal battles, and societal challenges, leading to chronic stress and burnout. Communities, too, are affected by the prevalence of acid attacks. The fear of such violence creates a climate of insecurity, particularly for women.
Part III: Legislative Development on the Matter
Despite efforts to strengthen laws against acid attacks, the legal system in Pakistan remains fraught with challenges. Naila Farhat’s case (2003) was appealed to the Supreme Court and it took her six years to seek justice. The attackers were sentenced to 12 years imprisonment and ordered to pay 1.2 million in damages.
After this case in December 2011, the Pakistani Senate unanimously approved the Acid Control and Acid Crime Prevention Act to criminalize acid attacks, recognizing them as specific crimes, thus amending the Pakistani Criminal Code and Criminal Procedure Code. In particular, the Penal Code now includes Sections 336A and 336B, which introduce the crime of injuries caused by corrosive substances; the law also criminalizes the conduct of those who market acidic substances without authorization. The Act increased the penalty for disfigurement to life imprisonment and levied a fine of one million rupees on the perpetrators to cover the victims’ medical expenses. The legislation also banned the sale of acid to individuals without a license and increased the penalty for unlawful sales, from 500 rupees to 100,000 rupees and/or a year in jail for the first offense. It contains provisions to speed up proceedings in vitriol-age cases, provide free medical assistance and treatment to victims, and establish the Acid and Burn Crime Monitoring Board to implement the objectives [12].
Punjab adopted the Women’s Empowerment Package in 2014, which contains special measures related to acid crimes such as reforms to the Poison Act 1979 that aim to regulate the sale of acid, Inclusion of acid crimes within anti-terrorism provisions, and establishment of a fund to provide medical and psychological care to acid attack survivors. The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Protection Against Acid and Burn Crime Act was passed in 2015. The law suggests punishment for those attempting to commit an acid or burn attack, which may extend up to seven years and will not be less than three years with a fine not exceeding 100,000 rupees
Conclusion
Despite these measures, the cases of acid attacks have not reduced drastically. This is because the Pakistani government has not intervened on a broader level to resolve the problem of violence against women in the country or to control social and cultural causes that lead to violence. In addition, in parallel with the creation of new criminal acts, the government has not set up an adequate system to implement the level of awareness of acid attacks in the country and to encourage women to report attacks. Women often do not report cases due to pressure from the family and societal restrictions. Zohra Yusuf, the chair of Pakistan’s Human Rights Commission said ‘Only about 10% of the cases about acid attacks are getting to court’.
Moreover, the government has also not invested in training specialized police enforcement personnel to deal with these cases. It has also not addressed the problem in rural areas in the country, where the attacks are most widespread and where tribal laws often replace the laws of the state.
However, the important point to note is that several organizations are working in Pakistan to raise awareness such as ASF which works to eradicate acid violence in Pakistan and promote the human rights of burnt victims. Between 2007 and 2012, the Acid Survivors Foundation recorded 786 incidents out of which 62 victims have been provided legal aid. UK support to the Acid Survivors Foundation has enabled wider lobbying efforts which have helped achieve advocacy and awareness raising [13]. It was found that the conviction rate has significantly increased from 17.3 percent of total registered cases in 2014. Nearly 40 cases of acid throwing were reported from South Punjab, and 11 cases were from Central Punjab. Meanwhile, 54 FIRs were registered in 2018 to 2019 whereas 13 cases were prosecuted [14].
Addressing the horrifying issue of acid attacks requires a holistic approach which would include stricter regulation of acid sales, stronger enforcement of the laws, better and quick access to medical and psychological care, and community-based efforts to challenge the stigma and support victims
References
[1] Global Human Rights Defense, “Acid Attacks in Pakistan: A Reflection of A Patriarchal Society Depriving Women Of Their Human Rights” (2021) <https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/acid-attacks-pakistan-reflection-patriarchal-> (last accessed: 19th January,2025)
[2] Asia Foundation, “Acid Crimes: A Growing Crisis in Pakistan” (2024) <https://asiafoundation.org/acid-crimes-a-growing-crisis-in-pakistan/> (last accessed: 19th January,2025)
[3] Asian Human Rights Commission, “Acid Attack, a Serious Concern In Pakistan” <http://www.humanrights.asia/resources/journals-magazines/eia/vol-4-no-1-february-2010/http-www-humanrights-asia-resources-journals-magazines-eia-eiav4a1-3-acid-attacks-a-serious-concern-in-pakistan/> (last accessed: 19th January,2025)
[4] Department for International Development, “Tackling Violence Against Women In Pakistan” (2013) <https://www.gov.uk/government/case-studies/tackling-violence-against-women-in-pakistan> (last accessed: 19th January,2025)
[5] Supra [3]
[6] BBC Asia, “Pakistani Women’s Lives Destroyed by Acid Attacks” (2022) <https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-17676542> (last accessed: 19th January,2025)
[7] Supra [3]
[8] Laiba Mubashar, Muhammad Wasay Mir, “Acid Attacks: Pakistan’s Worst Social Epidemic” (2023) <https://pulitzercenter.org/stories/acid-attacks-pakistans-worst-social-epidemic> (last accessed: 19th January, 2025)
[9] Dr. Nazia Malik, “Acid Attacks Survivors in Pakistan: A Qualitative Study” (2024) <https://jptcp.com/index.php/jptcp/article/view/6739 > (last accessed: 19th January,2025)
[10] Amy Silverstein, “Acid attack victim Fakhra Younus commits suicide” (2016) <https://theworld.org/stories/2016/07/31/acid-attack-victim-fakhra-younus-commits-suicide> (last accessed:19th January,2025)
[11] Farhan Navid Yousaf, Bandana Purkayastha, “Beyond saving faces: Survivors of acid attacks in Pakistan” (2016) <https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0277539515300443> (last accessed: 19th January,2025)
[12] Gaia Calcini, “Acid Attacks: An Overview of Legal Measures and Motivation Trends in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Colombia, and Cambodia Trends in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Colombia, and Cambodia” Dignity: A Journal of Analysis of Exploitation and Violence, Volume 7 Issue 4 (2022) <https://digitalcommons.uri.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1296&context=dignity> (last accessed:19th January,2025)
[13] Supra [4]
[14] Gulf News Asia, “Pakistan: Cases of acid attacks on women drop by half” (2019) <https://gulfnews.com/world/asia/pakistan/pakistan-cases-of-acid-attacks-on-women-drop-by-half-1.65626299?trk=article-ssr-frontend-pulse_little-text-block > (last accessed: 19th January,2025)