Acid Attacks in Pakistan Acid violence is very heinous and recent form of violence that mostly women are

facing throughout the world especially in Asia. As this can be evidenced that level of aggression is increasing in all the societies, the complicated forms of violence are also getting more intense and advance. Such form of sever acid attacks were not even thought in last few decades, but now this phenomenon is getting very frequent. The exposure of media and modern technologies has exacerbated this situation. The lawlessness in Pakistani societies and easy availability are further contributing to complicate this phenomenon. The attacks of violence usually leave temporary physical scars but lasting psychological and emotional impact. But somehow the physical signs of abuse in acid attacks persist for long period of time and sometimes are irreversible. Thus this form of violence is most aggravated means of aggression. Acid throwing is a form of violence primarily directed against women, increasingly taking place throughout Pakistan, although in recent years an increasing number of men have also been attacked with this form of violence. This form of violence is relatively recent. Acid has become a weapon of revenge for refusal of any proposal of marriage or demand for dowry; it is also used against women in context of political clashes, land enmity, and family feud. The increase in the number of attacks (one attack is reported every 3 days) is related to the easy availability of acid The victims are attacked for many reasons. In some cases it is because a young girl or women has spurned the sexual advances of a male or either she or her parents have rejected a proposal of marriage. Recently, however, there have been acid attacks on children, older women and also men. These attacks are often the result of family and land dispute, dowry demands or a desire for revenge. Statistics on acid attacks in Pakistan are disparate and scattered at best. Recent data compiled by the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) found that in 2007, at least 33 women were burned in acid attacks which suggest a large decrease in attacks from previous years. In 2004, the HRCP documented 46 acid attacks in the southern Punjab alone. The newly established Acid Survivors Foundation Pakistan (ASFP) has

contrasting figures to the HRCP, and has listed 137 survivors who have utilized their services in the past year. However it is the staggering estimate by the Human Rights Watch (HRW) that cites at least 280 women died and 750 suffered injuries in 2002 alone as a result of acid attacks (HRW). Furthermore, the HRCP in their State of Human Rights 2004 report state that approximately 400 women are attacked by acid each year and that 15,000 cases of acid attack violence have been reported over the past ten years. According to an independent survey carried out by Depilex Smileagain Foundation (DSF) there were 242 cases of burnt victims in Pakistan in 2011. 153 of these cases were a result of intentional violence whereas 89 were accidental cases. The number of victims of Acid Attacks and Set-on-Fire has increased by 31% and 47% respectively since 2010, which is very alarming in these modern times where there are tens of NGOs looking after Human and Women Rights (DSF, 2012). So the present study was conducted to find out the victims demographical characteristics and to identify the possible and plausible causes of the attacks and also to find out the perceived perpetrator. Reporting From Islamabad, Pakistan -- Every year, scores of Pakistani women are disfigured in acid attacks, usually at the hands of husbands or relatives. The attacks, often brought on by fits of jealousy or rage, go largely ignored and rarely prosecuted. Activists working to raise awareness of the plight of acid attack victims received a major boost with Pakistani filmmaker Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy's acceptance of the Oscar for short subject documentary. Obaid-Chinoy's film, "Saving Face," chronicles the struggles of acid-attack survivors as well as the efforts of a British Pakistani doctor who performs reconstructive surgery on women disfigured in such attacks. It estimates that as many as 200 acid attacks occur in Pakistan each year. In more than 70% of the attacks, the victims are women or girls. Recently, activists have made strides in fighting for the rights of the victims. Last fall, Pakistan passed a law that established tougher penalties for an acidattack conviction -- 14 years to life behind bars and a fine of up to $11,000. Acid attacks do not only destroy skin and bone, but also seriously damage the way victims feel and think. These psychological problems are caused by the terror

victims suffer during the attack, as they feel their skin burning away, and the terrible disfigurement they have to live with afterward Victims of acid attacks suffer for the whole life; become the burden of the family, and society. Most victims experience a dramatic change in their lifestyle: they often face social isolation, which damage victims self-esteem and economic position. The trauma stems from excruciating pain and unbearable shock compound by social rejection even by the own families. Most of the acid victims stop their education or work during lengthy recovery and beyond due to disfigurement. The psychological aspects of burn injury have been researched in different parts of world producing different outcomes. Psychological impairment has found to be present in 45.5% and 40% at baseline and follow up assessments respectively. The extent of burn has been found to be associated with psychological impairment. Acid violence is a burning issue which is getting more frequent day by day in our society. The present research aimed at exploring the literature on the extent and context of acid attack violence, the most salient feature is the dearth of research on this issue.