• Penal sanctions alone deemed insufficient
• Court calls for National Acid Survivors’ Rehabilitation Fund
ISLAMABAD: In a landmark judgement issued on Monday, the Supreme Court declared acid attacks more heinous than homicide, describing them as crimes that condemn victims to a “living death”.
The ruling came while dismissing the appeal of Abdul Manan alias Imran, convicted of throwing acid on a young woman in Faisalabad. A three-member bench headed by Justice Muhammad Hashim Khan Kakar, and comprising Justice Salahuddin Panhwar and Justice Ishtiaq Ibrahim, upheld the convict’s life sentence and Rs1 million fine, affirming a Lahore High Court order issued in November 2022.
In a strongly worded judgement, Justice Kakar observed that while murder ends a life once, acid violence forces victims to endure physical and psychological suffering every day. He said perpetrators seek not only to injure but to destroy a victim’s identity and dignity, leaving a permanent reminder of their crime.
The court urged federal and provincial governments to establish a National Acid Survivors’ Rehabilitation Fund through specialised legislation. The proposed fund would provide medical coverage for reconstructive surgeries, specialised physical therapy and long-term psychological treatment. The judgement stressed that survivors often face depression, trauma and social isolation long after criminal proceedings conclude.
The court also recommended a monthly stipend for survivors unable to support themselves because of the severity of their injuries. It further suggested accommodating acid attack survivors under disability quotas and developing National Rehabilitation Guidelines to ensure free lifelong medical and mental healthcare through public and private institutions.
Tracing the history of acid violence, the judgement noted that such attacks have frequently been used as instruments of patriarchal control, particularly following rejected marriage proposals, sexual advances, dowry disputes and other forms of gender-based violence. Their purpose, it observed, is often to inflict “social death” by permanently damaging a victim’s appearance and identity.
Justice Kakar emphasised that the most effective response requires both strict criminal penalties and tighter regulation of corrosive substances. Referring to experiences in countries such as Bangladesh and Cambodia, the judgement noted that strong legal frameworks and regulation of acid sales have played a key role in reducing such crimes.
While Pakistan strengthened penalties through legislative amendments in 2011, the court observed that acid attacks continue to occur, demonstrating that punishment alone cannot eliminate the problem. Easy access to corrosive substances, it said, weakens the deterrent effect of criminal sanctions.
In this regard, the judgement described the Punjab Acid Control Act 2025 as an important development. The law focuses on prevention by introducing a licensing regime and prohibiting the sale of acid to individuals under 18 years of age. The court expressed hope that effective enforcement of such measures would significantly reduce access to corrosive substances.
The judgement highlighted the long-term suffering endured by survivors, many of whom undergo years of painful and expensive treatment. Citing information from the Asian Human Rights Commission, it referred to survivors who required numerous reconstructive surgeries after attacks linked to marital disputes, rejected proposals and family conflicts.
The court warned that legislation alone is insufficient if implementation remains weak. Recurring incidents of acid violence, it observed, reflect gaps in enforcement and the need for stronger institutional responses.
To improve accountability, the Supreme Court urged high courts to closely monitor acid attack cases and ensure compliance with statutory timelines for trials. Swift disposal of cases, it said, would help prevent secondary victimisation and strengthen public confidence in the justice system.
The judgement also recommended a complete ban on the sale of acid to private individuals wherever unregulated retail trade continues. In addition, it proposed a centralised digital monitoring system for all legal sales and purchases of acid. Under the proposed mechanism, buyers would submit electronic applications specifying the quantity required, intended use and personal details, supported by photographs and biometric thumb impressions.
According to the court, such a system would replace manual record-keeping and ensure transparency in the trade of corrosive substances.
The Supreme Court directed its office to send copies of the judgement to all high courts, relevant federal and provincial law departments, the Parliamentary Committee on Law and Justice, the Attorney General for Pakistan, and provincial advocate-general and prosecutor-general offices. Authorities have been asked to report measures taken in response to the judgement through the registrar of the court.
Published in Dawn, June 9th, 2026