The Acid Control and Acid Crime Prevention Act, 2011

The Acid Control and Acid Crime Prevention Act, 2011 (Criminal Law Second Amendment Act, 2011) made amendments in Pakistan Penal Code and the Code of Criminal Procedure to punish perpetrators of acid crimes by clearly including acid crimes in the definition of hurt. The definition of “hurt” now includes “hurt by dangerous means or substance, including any corrosive substance or acid to be crimes”.

Under section 336-B of Pakistan Penal code, punishment for offenders can extend up to life imprisonment, along with a fine, which may not be less than five hundred thousand rupees.

There is also a punishment for unauthorized sellers of “corrosive substances”. This is:

  • On first conviction, an imprisonment of one year or a fine of a hundred thousand rupees or both.
  • On second and subsequent conviction, an imprisonment of two years or a fine of two hundred thousand or both.