ISLAMABAD: Naila Farhat, 25, became the victim of an acid attack in 2003. Since then, she has been suffering from severe psychological trauma. One of her eyes was burnt in the attack, and the other has also been partially affected.

In 2003 Ms Farhat, then 13 years old, was in the eighth grade and lived in Layyah. Her teacher, who was 30, claimed he wanted to marry her, and sent a message to her family about an engagement.

Her family refused, and a few days after the refusal, her teacher threw acid on her.

Ms Farhat’s family has supported her for the last 12 years, and not only did she continue her education, she is now working as an assistant nurse at the medical centre of an NGO.

On Saturday, Ms Farhat participated in the launch ceremony of a music video titled ‘Saheli’ at the Lok Virsa Project. The event was organised by the Acid Survivors Foundation (ASF) and funded by the Delegation of the European Union to Pakistan.

Speaking to the audience, Ms Farhat said that after the incident, a case was registered against the suspect, and in 2005 a civil court announced 12 years imprisonment and a Rs1.2 million fine to her attacker.

She said the suspect filed an appeal in the sessions court to nullify this punishment, at which point she filed an application to increase the punishment. She said the sessions court endorsed the decision of the civil court.

“After that, the suspect filed an appeal in the Multan High Court, and the court decreased his punishment from 12 years to four. I filed an application in the Supreme Court to reconsider the punishment, due to which the Supreme Court restored the punishment of 12 years,” she said.

She told Dawn that the family of her attacker has approached her family several times, claiming her attacker will marry her if she stops pursuing the case.

“My family and I told them we don’t want to have any relation with the person who ruined my life,” she said.

ASF chairperson Valerie Khan said that as time has passed things have improved, and punishments are being given in some cases.

“However, still a lot more has to be done to reduce the incidents of acid throwing and for the punishments of suspects,” she said.

“First of all, comprehensive legislation should be made, because only that is how the case of acid throwing will be reduced. The state should [compensate] victims of acid throwing,” she said.

She added that the sale of acid should be regulated, and acid throwing damages a victim’s personality, and the victim suffers physically and mentally for the rest of her life.

During the event ASF, in collaboration with Group Development Pakistan, the National Commission on the Status of Women (NCSW) and EVAWG Alliance released a music video produced to sensitise the public, especially the youth, to acid violence.

The song, titled ‘Saheli’ was written by Irfan Ahmed Urfi and composed and performed by local artist Asrar. The video was directed by Aftab Abbasi.

Published in Dawn, November 22nd, 2015