Summary The Supreme Court upheld a life sentence in an acid attack case, ordered stricter controls on acid sales and announced major relief measures for survivors
ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – The Supreme Court has delivered a landmark verdict against acid attacks, upholding the life imprisonment sentence of convict Abdul Mannan for throwing acid on Faisalabad resident Iqra Parveen and rejecting his plea for a reduced sentence on the basis of being a juvenile.
A three-member bench comprising Justice Hashim Khan Kakar, Justice Salahuddin Panhwar and Justice Ishtiaq Ibrahim issued a 13-page judgment in the case.
The court ruled that juvenility cannot be used as a shield in brutal and premeditated crimes, observing that acid attacks are even more horrific than murder because murder ends a life once, while an acid attack victim suffers physical and psychological pain for a lifetime.
The Supreme Court also directed the convict, Abdul Mannan, to pay Rs1 million in compensation to the victim, Iqra Parveen.
In its judgment, the court instructed all High Courts to ensure that trials in acid attack cases are completed within four months and directed the respective High Courts to personally monitor such cases.
The court further ordered the government to immediately ban the open sale of acid to the general public and establish a biometric and central digital monitoring system for the purchase and sale of acid. It directed that buyers must provide their national identity card details and thumb impressions.
The Supreme Court also ordered the establishment of a National Rehabilitation Fund for acid attack survivors. It directed the government to bear the full cost of plastic surgery and psychological treatment for victims.
Additionally, the court ruled that permanently affected survivors should be provided disability certificates, monthly financial assistance and special quotas in government jobs, educational institutions and welfare schemes.
The Supreme Court also directed the Registrar to send copies of the judgment to all High Courts, the federal and provincial law departments, the Attorney General and the Advocates General for implementation.
