In a joint session of the National Assembly and the Senate on Tuesday, the Pakistani Parliament adopted a resolution to implement “comprehensive and dedicated laws” against those who throw acid on human beings. The session followed parliamentarians’ demand for action in response to the acid crime committed against Fakhra Younus, who committed suicide in March, 2012. Rehman Malik, the Minister for Interior, urged the House to require strict enforcement of a law requiring the checking of sales and purchases of acid in the market. The resolution also called for a comprehensive, dedicated law on acid crimes be passed at both federal and provincial levels.
The National Assembly Speaker was also encouraged by Pakistan Peoples Party MNA and Pakistan Muslim League to stress the relation of acid crime punishments to The Domestic Violence Bill, 2009, which is to be presented in Parliament this week.
The Senate has already passed a bill imposing strict punishment on acid crime perpetrators. The Acid Control and Acid Crime Prevention Bill calls for a maximum of life in prison with fines up to Rs1 million. Some lawmakers felt that the punishment in Pakistan’s penal code is inadequate and recommended that the maximum penalty include capital punishment.
Compiled from: Lawmakers agree on stringent laws on acid crimes, The Express Tribune, (2 April 2012).