Pakistani woman throws acid at man who refused to marry her

Mohammed Tofeeq holds his 10-month-old daughter, Gulshan Tofeeq, while he prays at the grave of his wife Muqadas Tofeeq, who local police say was killed by her mother, in Butrawala village on the outskirts of Gujranwala, Pakistan, Saturday, June 18, 2016.

Ahmed identified the woman as 32-year-old Monil Mai.

Officials say Momel Mai was in a long-term relationship with Sadaqat Ali, but was angry that he would not marry her.

“Doctors are fighting to save Ali’s life”, he said. Polygamy is legal though rare for men in conservative Muslim Pakistan. It is a heinous crime whether it is committed against a woman or a man. It is very rare that women commit such crimes. Ali had just enough time to turn and let his back take the brunt of the burns.

Acid is readily available in agricultural southern Punjab because of its prominent use in farming.

Between 150 and 400 cases of acid attacks are reported in the country every year. Such attacks are not aimed at killing the victim, but causing disfigurement and they often cause blindness, hearing loss and physical and mental pain.

There are various reasons behind the assaults which includes personal reasons as marriage proposal rejections or divorce issues, property and land disputes and also due to religious extremism.