LAHORE: Four members of a family suffered acid burns when a man targeted his estranged wife and his in-laws in a locality of Ravi Road on Sunday.
The suspect, who allegedly attacked his wife and in-laws following a matrimonial dispute, fled the scene.
The chief minister, taking notice of yet another incident of acid throwing, ordered police to take stern action against the suspect.
Earlier, two motorcyclists had thrown acid on a private university’s lecturer at her doorstep near College Road, Township, in the last week of January.
Police have yet to arrest the main suspect who is said to be a former class-fellow of the victim. She was going to be married soon.
About the Sunday’s incident, Ravi Road circle DSP Atif Hayyat said preliminary investigations showed the suspect, Nasir, threw acid on his wife and a minor child during a visit to his in-laws in Shamaspura.
The suspect’s brother-in-law and his wife, who were present there, also came under the attack.
The DSP said Nasir apparently resorted to acid attack on refusal of his estranged wife to return to his house.
He said Sakina, her one-year-old son Ibrahim, her brother Shaukat Ali and Ali’s wife Rasheeda suffered acid burns and were immediately transported to Mayo Hospital where they were said to be stable.
Sabzadi Mandi police check post in-charge Muhammad Hussain Bhati said Nasir was a drug addict and his wife had filed a divorce suit in a court a few days ago.
He said Nasir, a father of three, would allegedly force his wife to earn money through prostitution. Hearing of the divorce case was on February 16, he added.
He said Sakina suffered severe burns but was out of danger. The police have registered a case under hurt and terrorism charges against the runaway suspect and were conducting raids for his arrest.
Advisor to the chief minister on health Khawaja Salman Rafique and PML-N MPA Ghazali Saleem Butt inquired after the injured at the hospital.