HALIMA lost her eyesight in an acid attack in Jhang, which DawnNews reported on May 29. According to the report, an influential landlord and his sons threw acid on Halima’s face, damaging permanently her eyes, because her father refused to marry her to one of the attacker’s sons.

The police registered a case, arrested two of the nominated accused and later released them to please a local PML(N) MPA.

I can understand and feel Halima’s pain and her father’s hurt because I am a father of two daughters. Halima Bibi is like a daughter to me. The attacker committed this crime knowing too well that he would get away with it because he has friends in high places.

Providing justice to the helpless is as important as the judiciary itself. I hope the court will take up the cause of Halima. Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry should take suo motu action against the perpetrators of this crime.

S. NAYYAR IQBAL RAZA
Karachi
Source: Dawn
Date:6/5/2009