RAWALPINDI: A woman and her father were hospitalised with acid burn injuries after her ex-husband threw acid on them in the Dhamial area on Friday.

The incident occurred when S.K. and her stepfather were on their way to the family court to collect maintenance from her ex-husband.

S.K, 25, a resident of Akbat Chowk, Thalian Road, lodged an FIR with Dhamial police, stating that she had been residing with her mother and stepfather, Hakim Khan. She said she was married to Mohammad Riaz in 2017, and that they had a son. She alleged that her ex-husband occasionally tortured her, which led her to seek divorce (khula) a year ago.

The court ordered her ex-husband to pay Rs85,000 in maintenance after she received divorce from the family court. She said her ex-husband had already made the first payment on January 21, 2025,and deposited the second payment in the family court on Friday.

She further stated in the FIR that she and her stepfather were on their way to the family court to collect the amount in maintenance at about 8:30 am on Friday. She said as they left house and were on a motorcycle, she noticed that her ex-husband was following them on another motorcycle accompanied by an unknown person.

In the FIR she added that they were near SOS village, when all of a sudden her ex-husband, carrying an acid bottle threw acid on her. As a result her face, forehead, and arm were burnt, while her stepfather was also injured in the acid attack. Due to severe injuries, they both fell on the road, while her ex-husband sped off.

The injured victims were shifted to a nearby private hospital by the passers-by and subsequently, they were removed to Benazir Bhutto Hospital by Rescue 1122.

A police spokesman said that police have arrested the ex-husband of a woman involved in an acid attack on her and launched an investigation into the incident.

Published in Dawn, February 22nd, 2025