ISLAMABAD, May 19: A man threw acid on her wife after she refused to withdraw a plea submitted to a local court seeking (divorce), police said on Thursday.

Nagina Bibi, who works as a maid, was intercepted by her husband Mohammad Irfan at Shahzad Town when she was going to her employer's house. He asked her to review her decision to seek and return to his house but she refused.

As a result, Irfan pulled out a bottle of acid and sprinkled it on her. The woman sustained acid burns in her head, face, neck, chest, abdomen and back. The accused escaped from the scene while the victim was shifted to hospital by some passersby.

Doctors in the hospital said her condition was critical and efforts were being made to save her life.

Police said Nagina Bibi along with her children migrated to Islamabad from Multan after getting Khula from her first husband when he contracted second marriage. She settled in Shahzad Town and started working as a maid.

About a year back, she married Irfan against the will of her parents living in Multan.

After getting the news of Nagina's second marriage, her former husband reached the capital and took his children to Multan. Shortly after her marriage in the capital, Nagina came to know that her new husband was an addict. Besides, some months later he relinquished his job.

As a result, the couple frequently engaged in quarrels and Irfan used to beat her. About two months back, Nagina left Irfan and started living in the house of a retired banker in Shahzad Town as a maid. Khula

Two months back, she moved the family court seeking from Irfan. Though Irfan made several attempts to settle the issue and assure his wife that he would give up his addiction and start working, she did not trust him.