Fakhra Younus Acid attack victim commits suicide in Italy

Acid attack victim Fakhra Younus commits suicide in Italy

It is quite saddening to learn about the death of Fakhra Younus, an acid attack victim, who made her home in Italy as a “civil unacceptable person” after going through the painful experience.  Fakhra put an end to her life by committing suicide this week.

Back in 2000, she was attacked by her husband Bilal Khar (ex-MPA of the Punjab Assembly and the son of Pakistani Politician Ghulam Mustafa Khar), who spilled acid on her face after they split up. She stated: “It was a Sunday afternoon (2:30pm, May 14, 2000)
and I was asleep in my drawing room when I heard Bilal’s voice, ‘Fakhra … Fakhra wake up!’ I jerked as he held me by my hair and opened my mouth. Because I resisted he couldn’t get me to swallow. But then he threw something on me. At first I thought it was
a joke. I did not understand what had happened to me. Then he left, so I ran after him. My house was on the second floor and by the time I got to the first floor, I realized I could not see,”

Fakhra was a resident of Karachi’s red-light area, the infamous Napier Road.  She met Bilal Khar, in 1998. They developed six-month-long courtship and finally ended up tying the knot. The marriage was strongly opposed by his father, feudal lord. However,
the couple moved to Lahore where Fakhira was told about Bilal’s previous three marriages. She was taken aback and this was how the tussle between the two raised head.  She spent three years with his husband and then moved back to her parental home. Bilal insisted
her not to leave and stay with her but Fakhra had had enough till then.

Almost one week after her departure, Bilal arrived at her home and punished her for the having the courage to leave him.  It was the horrendous act, which changed the entire life of Fakhira. She lost her beauty and became the ugly queen of clay. The acid
melted her face. Meanwhile, Tehmina Durrani, the former step mother of Bilal Khar, took Fakhira in her custody and gave her the hope to get along. Fakhira was sent to Italy for treatment, where she had 39 reconstructive surgeries.

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