PAKISTANI MAN ARRESTED FOR ACID ATTACK

August 30, 2004 - (AP) Police arrested a man for allegedly throwing acid in a Pakistani courtroom on Monday, injuring his brother-in-law and four other people with burns, an official said.

Mohammed Ibrahim, 22, told police he wanted to attack his sister Khadija for disgracing his family's honor. But she escaped unhurt, Deputy Superintendent of Karachi police Akram Abro said. Ibrahim was charged with attempted murder.

Khadija, 25, and her husband, Mohammed Ismail, 32, were in court in the southern city of Karachi after Ibrahim and his parents filed a complaint that Ismail had abducted the woman. Khadija, identified only by a single name, denied being abducted and said she had married Ismail of her own free will, Abro said.

Men often consider it an offense if a woman relative has an affair or marries without their permission. Acid attacks against women are not uncommon.

Magistrate Nasir Noor dismissed the case and allowed the couple to live together.

Ibrahim attacked the couple after the ruling and police arrested him as he tried to flee.

From: http://abcnews.go.com/wire/World/ap20040830_548.html