In the acid attack case, the SC affirms the life sentence.

In a landmark ruling against acid assaults, the Supreme Court upheld defendant Abdul Mannan’s life jail term for throwing acid on Faisalabad resident Iqra Parveen and rejected his appeal of lower punishment on the grounds of being a juvenile.

A three-member court of Justice Hashim Khan Kakar, Justice Salahuddin Panhwar and Justice Ishtiaq Ibrahim handed a 13-page judgement in the case.

Juvenility cannot be a shield in severe and pre-planned crimes, the court said, adding that acid assaults are more awful than murder as murder takes a life once but an acid attack victim suffers physical and psychological suffering for life.

The Supreme Court ordered the defendant, Abdul Mannan, to pay Rs1 million in compensation to the victim, Iqra Parveen.

In its order, the court had asked all the High Courts to ensure that trials in acid attack cases are concluded within four months and directed the various High Courts to personally oversee such cases.

The court also directed the government to immediately outlaw the open sale of acid to the general public and to set up a biometric and central digital monitoring system for the purchase and sale of acid. It asked consumers to supply their national identity card details and thumb impressions.

The Supreme Court also directed to set up a National Rehabilitation Fund for acid attack survivors. It ordered the government to pay the entire expenses of plastic surgery and psychological treatment of the victims.

The court also directed that permanently injured survivors should be given disability certificates, monthly financial aid and special quotas in government positions, educational institutions and welfare systems.

The Supreme Court asked the Registrar to provide copies of the judgement to all High Courts, federal and provincial law agencies, Attorney General and the Advocates General for implementation.