LAHORE, March 18: A woman in her 30s suffered critical burns after an unidentified man threw acid on her near Miani Sahib Graveyard on Monday.

The suspect escaped after dropping an empty can at the spot.

Civil Lines SP (Operations) Dr Farrukh Raza told Dawn that Naziran Bibi of Mangtanwala (Nankana district) was passing through the shrine of Ghazi Ilam Din Shaheed along with a man at the time of the incident.

He said the crime scene suggested that the suspect threw acid on the woman when she was walking in an isolated patch in the graveyard. The suspect who carried a 5kg can managed his escape, the SP said while quoting witnesses.

He said the victim was referred to Mayo Hospital after first aid at Ganga Ram Hospital. He said Naziran was brought back to the Ganga Ram after the Mayo’s authorities refused to accept the case.

Raza said the victim was said to be critical, adding the motive for the attack was not yet clear.

Talking to newsmen at Mayo Hospital, Special Assistant to CM on Health Khwaja Salman Rafique said an inquiry would be conducted to ascertain as to why she was not admitted to Mayo.