Pakistan’s Senate Standing Committee on Interior has approved a bill proposing tougher penalties for acid attacks, including the death penalty. The proposal seeks to amend Section 336 B of the Pakistan Penal Code, which covers injuries caused by corrosive substances.
If enacted, convicted offenders could face death, life imprisonment or at least 14 years in prison, along with a fine of up to Rs2 million.
The proposal comes amid renewed concern over acid violence and the lifelong damage it can cause. However, the bill has only cleared the Senate committee stage and still needs to pass through the remaining legislative process before becoming law.
Pakistan’s legal framework already treats acid attacks as serious crimes. Amendments introduced in 2011 added Sections 336 A and 336 B to the Pakistan Penal Code, specifically addressing harm caused by corrosive substances.
Under the existing law, offenders can face life imprisonment or a minimum 14 year prison sentence, together with a fine. The new proposal would add the death penalty as another possible punishment following conviction.
The move follows several recent cases that have brought acid violence back into public attention, including the attack on a female doctor in Quetta.
The proposed death penalty reflects a push for stronger punishment, but it also raises a wider question: does increasing the maximum sentence necessarily prevent such crimes?
For deterrence to work, potential offenders must believe that they will actually be identified, prosecuted and convicted. Strong laws can have limited impact when investigations fail, cases face delays or perpetrators avoid accountability.
That makes enforcement just as important as sentencing. Effective policing, evidence collection, timely trials and consistent convictions could determine whether tougher legislation translates into a meaningful reduction in acid violence.
For survivors, justice extends far beyond the punishment given to an attacker. Acid violence can result in permanent injuries, repeated medical procedures, psychological trauma and years of rehabilitation.
A stronger legal response therefore needs to work alongside access to specialised healthcare, reconstructive treatment, psychological support and legal assistance. Prevention is equally important, including effective regulation of corrosive substances and their sale.
The proposed amendment sends a strong message about the seriousness of acid violence. But its real impact will ultimately be measured by more than the severity of the sentence.
Pakistan’s Senate Standing Committee on Interior has approved a bill proposing tougher penalties for acid attacks, including the death penalty.
Pakistan’s Senate Standing Committee on Interior has approved a bill proposing tougher penalties for acid attacks, including the death penalty. The proposal seeks to amend Section 336 B of the Pakistan Penal Code, which covers injuries caused by corrosive substances.
If enacted, convicted offenders could face death, life imprisonment or at least 14 years in prison, along with a fine of up to Rs2 million.
The proposal comes amid renewed concern over acid violence and the lifelong damage it can cause. However, the bill has only cleared the Senate committee stage and still needs to pass through the remaining legislative process before becoming law.
Pakistan’s legal framework already treats acid attacks as serious crimes. Amendments introduced in 2011 added Sections 336 A and 336 B to the Pakistan Penal Code, specifically addressing harm caused by corrosive substances.
Under the existing law, offenders can face life imprisonment or a minimum 14 year prison sentence, together with a fine. The new proposal would add the death penalty as another possible punishment following conviction.
The move follows several recent cases that have brought acid violence back into public attention, including the attack on a female doctor in Quetta.
The proposed death penalty reflects a push for stronger punishment, but it also raises a wider question: does increasing the maximum sentence necessarily prevent such crimes?
For deterrence to work, potential offenders must believe that they will actually be identified, prosecuted and convicted. Strong laws can have limited impact when investigations fail, cases face delays or perpetrators avoid accountability.
That makes enforcement just as important as sentencing. Effective policing, evidence collection, timely trials and consistent convictions could determine whether tougher legislation translates into a meaningful reduction in acid violence.
For survivors, justice extends far beyond the punishment given to an attacker. Acid violence can result in permanent injuries, repeated medical procedures, psychological trauma and years of rehabilitation.
A stronger legal response therefore needs to work alongside access to specialised healthcare, reconstructive treatment, psychological support and legal assistance. Prevention is equally important, including effective regulation of corrosive substances and their sale.
The proposed amendment sends a strong message about the seriousness of acid violence. But its real impact will ultimately be measured by more than the severity of the sentence.
