Acid Control Bill tabled in Punjab Assembly after Islamabad incident

Following the acid attack on a woman in Islamabad’s F-10 area, Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) has tabled the Acid Control Bill 2024 in the Punjab Assembly.

The bill, which aims to save women from the acid attack, was moved by Chairman Punjab Women Protection Authority, Hina Parvez Butt.

The development came after the acid attack incident in the federal capital, where three men threw acid on a woman and managed to flee. The victim suffered severe injuries to her face and lower body.

Addressing the assembly, Butt said the bill would be implemented across the province 'immediately' after the approval from the provincial house.

The acid vendors will be required to have a license from the Deputy Commissioner of the respective district, and it will be valid for two years, under the bill. 

The authority will have the right to revoke the license in case of any violation. Moreover, if the vendors fail to get a license within 120 days after the implementation of the law, they will face charges and penalties.

The bill also prohibits the sale of acid to teenagers. 

Women are the primary victims of acid attacks in over 80 percent of cases. 

The women, in most cases, were targeted for rejecting proposals, refusing extramarital relationships, revenge from the partner, etc.

In May 2018, the National Assembly passed the bill “The Acid and Burn Crime Bill 2017”, which aims to rapidly trial offenders and provide treatments and rehabilitation to victims.