Haleema’s Story
Haleema Bibi was a housewife with 5 children living in the remote village of Jatooi in southern Punjab of Pakistan. On 2nd September 1997 at 4 am, while Haleema was sleeping at her home with her 8 year old daughter Kauser, unknown criminals attacked and burnt Haleema with acid. Her face and arms were badly burnt and the ear of her daughter was completely burnt.
An FIR was registered and both mother and daughter were under treatment which stopped when they could no longer afford it. Haleema’s contractures would not allow her to move her arm and she experienced a great deal of difficulty and pain managing her obligatory household chores.
This continued for nearly a decade until Haleema was approached by ASF in January 2007. At ASF Haleema received medical rehabilitation with a range of successful surgical procedures. Now she has turned to life again and is quite contented to live with her beloved family.
Manzoor’s Story
Manzoor Attiqa, a young girl of 22 years, was married to Maqsood Ahmad in the village of Gujranwala. She is also the mother of a 2 year old daughter. She had been experiencing domestic violence from her in-laws since she got married, but the cruelty reached its peak on 26th April 2006, when her mother in law, sister in law and brother in law threw acid on her. After this brutality they locked her in a room. At 6 o clock in the evening they took her to the hospital at which point the acid had melted her skin and bones badly.
Attiqa was admitted to a Government hospital and her parents left no stone unturned for her treatment. They have also sold all of their valuables to pursue the legal case against the criminals. However, they have not been successful and instead have received false legal cases against themselves from opponents.
After two years Monzoor was not able to eat and drink properly due to her melted lips and contracture of neck. Luckily a doctor named Ijaz referred her to ASF-P on 1st March, 2008. At ASF she has received multiple surgical procedures to release contractures and reconstruct her lips and face. Now she looks better and can eat and drink properly. ASF-P is also following up with legal support by getting in touch with the lawyer. The return of Manzoor’s daughter to her has been discussed as well as the punishment of the criminals.
Shamim’s Story
Shamim a young widow living in the small village of district Muzzafar Garh with her 3 children, was punished for her modesty by an influential person of her own community. On the 18th Sep 1993 Shamim was sleeping, along with her 8 month old daughter, when Abdul Rahman and Rab Nawaz attacked her with acid. As a result she and her daughter were badly burnt. Shamim was taken to the nearest hospital where only first aid treatment was given.
Khair Mohammad (Shamim’s father) fought a court case against the criminals. However, when he died, there was no one to follow the case. In the end the criminals were freed from the jail on bail. Due to social pressure Shamim had to get married to the same person who attacked her. The accused married her on the condition that she withdraw the case against him. She withdrew the case but the accused did not take any responsibility for her, in spite of wed lock, so she still had to work in the fields to feed herself and her four children.
On January 2007 a field coordinator from ASF Pakistan approached Shamim to consider medical treatment as she had not previously had surgery. She was brought to the nursing care center of ASF Pakistan on 5th February, 2007 where free surgeries on her neck and eyelids were carried out. Medical follow ups and psychological treatment were also provided. As a result, Shamim is now able to handle her household affairs very adequately and also supports her children by rearing livestock and working in the fields. ASF Pakistan has also helped to renovate her broken house and instal a hand pump.
Zafar’s Story
By profession Muhammad Zafar Iqbal was a dancer and used to dance in the weddings. In 2003, when Zafar was only 15 years old, some people of his area wanted to have illicit relations with him. He refused and they threw acid on him. He was badly disfigured and not able to eat while sitting due to acid burns on his lips and neck. He has also lost his eyesight.
Through its Notification system ASF found him and brought him to Islamabad for treatment He had not received any treatment up to this point. Through ASF, Zafar has received grafting to his lips and neck which now allows him drink and eat easily. Moreover ASF-P is following up with treatment for his eyes as there is some chance that he could see again.