Acid attack more heinous than homicide, tool of patriarchal violence: SC

The Supreme Court of Pakistan has issued a landmark ruling declaring acid attacks to be more heinous than homicide, describing them as a tool of patriarchal violence intended to inflict a permanent 'living death' upon victims. The judgment came as the court upheld the life sentence of a man convicted of throwing acid on a woman in Faisalabad. In his strongly worded opinion, Justice Muhammad Hashim Khan Kakar emphasized that these assaults aim to destroy a victim's identity and soul rather than simply ending their life. To address the aftermath of such violence, the court recommended that the government establish a National Acid Survivors’ Rehabilitation Fund. This proposed fund would provide victims with comprehensive medical coverage, reconstructive surgery, psychological counseling, and monthly stipends for those unable to work. Furthermore, the court urged authorities to implement stricter regulations on the sale of corrosive substances and to include survivors under disability quotas to ensure their long-term social and financial integration.

This ruling sets a significant legal precedent by classifying acid violence as a uniquely severe crime and mandates systemic state support for the long-term rehabilitation of survivors.