KARACHI, June 27: The father of a teenaged boy, victim of an acid-throwing incident, on Wednesday appealed to the president and the prime minister to protect him and his family from supporters of those who had defaced his son when he foiled their attempt to sexually assault him.

Speaking at a press conference at the Karachi Press Club, Mohammad Haroon Tanoli said his son had lost his eyes and had become a zombie after Qari Amin, a madressah teacher, threw acid on him five years ago.

He said after Amin and his accomplices, Nisar alias Guddu and Saeed alias Sheeda, were sent to jail, their influential relatives tried to get the case withdrawn through graft and terror, but he stood his ground. Upon his refusal, he said, the influential persons almost got him along with two of his sons jailed. But, he added, some police officials came to their rescue and had them released.

He said he had lost his taxicab and was shifting from place to place to protect his family from the wrath of the criminals.