Men spray Acid on women

Men on a motorbike sprayed acid on three sisters in the Kalat, south-western Pakistan, yesterday, causing serious burns.

The sisters, aged between 14 and 20, were on their way home when attacked. The girls' father, Abdul Karim, said that he had no idea of the motive.

Up to 135 women were victims of similar attacks in 2009, either being set on fire or having acid thrown on them, the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan said.


The attacks are usually linked to issues such as refusing a marriage proposal, failing to bear a son – or even something as trivial as cooking badly.

Iqbal Haider, co-chairman of the HRCP, condemned the attack and criticised the government for failing to prevent violence against women.

"People carry out such attacks because they know they will get away with it, as they are either not arrested or their trial drags on," he told Reuters.

"If they go scot-free then others are also encouraged."