18 April 2005	Monday	08 Rabi-ul-Awwal 1426

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PESHAWAR, April 17: Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) here have launched a fund-raising campaign for the treatment of a woman suffering from burn injuries as the federal and NWFP governments have yet to announce any support for her. The woman, Fauzia Habib, stated to be a victim of domestic violence, has been undergoing treatment at the burns unit of Khariyan CMH, where she was taken in a critical condition on April 14 by an NGO, AWARD (All Women Advancement and Resource Development).

Despite repeated appeals by civil society groups and family members of the victim, the provincial and federal governments have adopted an indifferent attitude towards her case.

Ms Fauzia has accused her husband, Aamir Habib, and mother-in-law, Ms Zahida Habib, of setting her on fire. The bail application of Mr Habib was rejected by a court a few days ago. He is in the Peshawar central prison.

Zahida Habib was granted interim pre-arrest bail which was extended for three days on April 16. The court of additional district and sessions’ judge will take up her case on April 19.

“With 76 per cent burn injuries, Fauzia is in critical condition and doctors are not very hopeful about her life,” said Nighat Kamdar of AWARD.. She added that although various people and organizations had pledged to provide financial assistance but none of them had fulfilled their commitments.

“I am still in touch with a leading beauty parlour chain which has promised to help us, but it has yet to take any practical step,” Ms Kamdar said. She added that they would leave no stone unturned for providing complete treatment to Fauzia.

Fauzia’s brother, Fayyaz Khan, told Dawn from Kharian that they were wholly dependent on the NGOs and some of them, especially AWARD, were extremely helpful towards them.

However, he added, the treatment was expensive and they were looking forward for support from any quarter otherwise it would be extremely difficult for the family to continue with Fauzia’s treatment.

He said he had to leave his identity card with a medical store so that he could get medicines as he was unable to pay at the time. “I can’t see my sister dying in such a miserable condition,” he added.

In an urgent action call, Bushra Gohar, an active member of the Joint Action Committee of civil society groups, requested the member organizations to contribute forthwith keeping in view Ms Fauzia’s present condition.

She said that Khariyan was an expensive place for getting treatment and Fauzia’s family would be needing at least Rs200,000 for her treatment.