Wandering souls, Runied Faces: Acid attacks on women in Pakistan

By Mishal Zia 

Dateline: 15 Jan, 2026

In Pakistan, acid attacks on women remain a horrifying form of gender-based violence that continues to shock communities and expose systemic failures in law enforcement and social protection. These attacks, which often leave survivors physically scarred and socially marginalized, are overwhelmingly perpetrated by men seeking revenge for perceived slights, rejection, or disputes over marriage and personal autonomy.

In 2022, Pakistan reported several high-profile acid attacks that highlighted both the brutality of the crimes and the enduring gaps in justice. In Lahore, a young woman in her twenties was attacked by a former acquaintance after refusing his marriage proposal. The incident, widely covered in local media, left her with severe burns on her face and arms. The attacker was later arrested, but activists criticized the police for delays in filing the case and for insufficient protection of survivors prior to the attack.

In Karachi, another case involved a teenage girl who was doused with acid by a distant relative after a family dispute. She suffered extensive injuries, and it took weeks for local authorities to provide her with specialized medical care. Civil society organizations pointed out that the delay reflected not only bureaucratic inefficiency but also a broader societal tolerance of violence against women.

Despite the passage of laws such as the Acid Control and Acid Crime Prevention Act of 2011, which criminalizes the sale and use of acid for attacks, enforcement has often been weak. Perpetrators frequently evade punishment due to inadequate investigations, corruption, and social pressures that discourage survivors from pursuing justice. In many cases, families of survivors face intimidation, and survivors themselves encounter discrimination when reintegrating into society.

Non-governmental organizations have continued to document patterns showing that acid attacks are often linked to broader issues of gender inequality, domestic disputes, and the inability of women to exercise autonomy over their choices. According to reports by Acid Survivors Foundation Pakistan, dozens of women suffer acid attacks every year, though the actual number may be higher due to underreporting driven by fear, stigma, and lack of awareness about legal rights.

Public outrage has sometimes translated into action, with campaigns and protests demanding stricter enforcement and victim support. Medical and rehabilitation services for survivors have expanded in cities like Karachi, Lahore, and Islamabad, but access remains uneven, particularly in rural areas. Survivors frequently struggle not only with the physical and psychological trauma of the attack but also with societal rejection, loss of employment, and ongoing threats from perpetrators.

The persistence of acid attacks in Pakistan reflects deeper societal and institutional challenges. Weak policing, delayed judicial processes, and inadequate protection for survivors have allowed perpetrators to commit these crimes with relative impunity. Activists argue that without a coordinated approach combining legal enforcement, victim rehabilitation, public education, and societal change, acid attacks will continue to target the most vulnerable and powerless women.

The stories of survivors are harrowing reminders that the fight against gender-based violence is far from over. Each attack not only destroys lives but also exposes the limitations of a system meant to protect women, illustrating the urgent need for comprehensive reforms that address both the legal and cultural roots of this violence.