SC underscores need for setting up acid survivors’ rehab fund

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court of Pakistan recommended that the federal and provincial governments take necessary steps for accommodating acid attack survivors under disability quotas and legislate for the establishment of a National Acid Survivors’ Rehabilitation Fund.

A three-judge SC bench, headed by Justice Muhammad Hashim Khan Kakar, heard an appeal of Abdul Manan Imran (petitioner), who was convicted of the offense punishable under section 336-B of the Pakistan Penal Code for causing burn injuries to Iqra Perveen through acid.

The petitioner’s counsel pleaded that his client was a juvenile aged 17/18 years. He submitted that the petitioner deserves leniency, considering his young age.

The apex court maintained the conviction and the sentence of life imprisonment passed by the lower courts and dismissed the petition. It said that the shield of juvenility cannot be invoked to mitigate a punishment for such an inhumane act, and found that the petitioner was entirely undeserving of the lesser penalty and deserving of the maximum penalty provided by the statute as a matter of absolute justice.”

The judgment, authored by Justice Hashim, directed the petitioner to pay Rs1,000,000/-, under Section 544-A of the CrPC, as compensation to the victim, which shall be recoverable as arrears of land revenue in the event of default.

It also recommended to all the High Courts to actively monitor and ensure that in all cases of vitriolage, the statutory timelines provided by relevant laws for the completion of trials are strictly adhered to for swift, summary adjudication to prevent secondary victimisation.

It further suggested that the federal and all provincial governments ensure that the sale of acid to private individuals is completely banned. It further recommended the creation and implementation of a centralised digital system governed and monitored by the concerned authorities in real time to process all legal acid sales and purchases.

Under this digital system, entities intending to purchase acid must apply through prescribed electronic forms, ensuring the collection of the following essential details for every purchase, including but not limited to quantity of acid, purpose of purchase, name and details of the purchaser, picture, and biometric thumb impression of the purchaser.

The judgment also recommended that the National Acid Survivors’ Rehabilitation Fund should provide comprehensive medical coverage for financing for exhaustive reconstructive surgeries and specialised physical therapy; ensure psychological and social rehabilitation through mandatory access to professional trauma counseling, psychotherapy, and psychiatric care to combat the “social death,” depression, and PTSD that frequently follow such attacks: Economic security through a mandatory monthly stipend for survivors who, due to the nature of their injuries or ongoing medical condition, are rendered incapable of financial self-support.

National Rehabilitation Guidelines as a standardised framework ensuring gratuitous, lifelong medical and mental health treatment across all state-mandated and private medical facilities (funded by the National Acid Survivors’ Rehabilitation Fund).

The SC office is directed that a copy of this judgment shall be forwarded to all the High Courts through Registrar, Federal Secretary for Law & Justice, to the Chairman Parliamentary Committee for Law & Justice, Secretary to the Government of Punjab Ministry of Law & Parliamentary Affairs Department; Secretary to the Government of Sindh Law, Parliamentary Affairs & Criminal prosecution department; Secretary to the Government of KPK Law, Justice, Parliamentary Affairs & Human Rights Department; Secretary to the Government of Balochistan Law & Parliamentary Affairs Department; Office of the Attorney General for Pakistan and the Offices of Advocate General/ Prosecutor General of all the Provinces of Pakistan for doing the needful. Any steps taken in this regard shall be intimated to this court through the Registrar.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2026