Senate panel passes bill proposing death penalty for perpetrators of acid attacks

Senate panel passes bill proposing death penalty for perpetrators of acid attacks.

Key points

• Khan Published September 7, 2026 Updated September 7, 2026 09: 06pm.
• Under Section 286A, imprisonment is rose from two to five years and the fine from Rs10, 000 to Rs500, 000.
• The bill proposes raising the punishment under Section 286 from six months to two years and the fine from Rs1, 000 to Rs100, 000.
• On the consumer side, the committee passed the Islamabad Consumers Protection (Amendment) Bill, additionally moved by Senator Zehri, to bring private healthcare under the 1995 Act.
• Earlier in June, 29-year-old Mahnoor Nasir was seriously injured at the Quetta Civil Hospital when another employee threw acid on her.

Iftikhar A. Khan Published September 7, 2026 Updated September 7, 2026 09: 06pm. Join our Whatsapp Channel. Add Dawn as a trusted source.

As it moved to strengthen protections for vulnerable groups and public safety, ISLAMABAD: The Senate Standing Committee on Interior on Monday passed a series of key criminal law amendments, including a bill proposing the death penalty for acid attacks.

Chaired by Senator Faisal Saleem Rehman, the committee considered private members' bills relating to acid crimes, protection of domestic workers, LPG safety, anti-rape legislation and consumer protection.

Interestingly, the bills were passed despite opposition from State Minister for Interior Tallal Chaudhry, with PPP lawmakers additionally voting in favour.

For context, the Criminal Law (Amendment) Bill moved by Senator Muhammad Abdul Qadir, seeking to amend Section 336B of the Pakistan Penal Code relating to hurt caused by corrosive substances, was passed in the absence of the mover.

Citing "the recent incident of acid attack on a lady doctor in Quetta", the bill states that despite the 2011 amendment, acid attacks continue to cause lifelong disfigurement and trauma.

It proposes the punishment of "death or imprisonment for life or imprisonment of not less than fourteen years and a fine of Rs2 million" to serve as a solid deterrent.

In practice, the committee additionally unanimously passed the Criminal Laws (Amendment) Bill moved by Senator Sarmad Ali, proposing to criminalise the abuse of domestic workers.

For context, the Statement of Objects and Reasons notes that "domestic workers constitute one of the most vulnerable segments of society, often subjected to physical violence, sexual abuse, forced labour, and other forms of mistreatment by employers."

It adds that "existing provisions. Do not specifically address the abuse arising from dependency and control inherent in domestic work settings".

Notably, the proposed section covers physical violence, sexual harassment, threats, forced labour, wage theft, confiscation of identity documents, denial of food or medical care, and humiliating treatment.

Meanwhile, the proposed penalties are "imprisonment for a term which may extend to ten years and fine which may extend to Rs100, 000" and "imprisonment for life and fine which may extend to Rs500, 000" if the offence causes serious injury or death.

Notably, the bill additionally makes employers liable if abuse is committed by household members, "unless the employer took reasonable steps to prevent such abuse".

Schedule II of the Criminal Procedure Code has additionally been amended to produce the offence non-bailable and triable by a court of session.

In a move to address public safety hazards, the committee passed the Criminal Laws (Amendment) Act, moved by Senator Shahadat Awan, to amend Sections 286 and 286A of the PPC to criminalise the unauthorised transfer of LPG into smaller cylinders.

Noting that such decanting in residential areas and roadside setups poses severe risks, the bill increases the punishment under Section 286 from six months to two years and the fine from Rs1, 000 to Rs100, 000. Under Section 286A, imprisonment is rose from two to five years and the fine from Rs10, 000 to Rs500, 000.

For context, the Statement of Objects and Reasons notes that "the decanting of LPG from larger cylinders into smaller domestic cylinders without proper safety measures has become a widespread practice in many parts of Pakistan." It adds that "these unauthorised decanting operations are often conducted in residential areas, workshops, or roadside setups without adherence to safety standards, posing severe risks to public life and property."

In practice, the bill proposes raising the punishment under Section 286 from six months to two years and the fine from Rs1, 000 to Rs100, 000. Under Section 286A, it proposes increasing the term of imprisonment from two to five years and the fine from Rs10, 000 to Rs500, 000.

"The proposed amendments aim to deter negligent and reckless conduct in the handling of explosive and hazardous substances, ensuring greater public safety and accountability."

Meanwhile, the committee additionally unanimously passed the Criminal Laws (Amendment) Bill, moved by Senator Samina Mumtaz Zehri, proposing to insert a new Section 338CA to produce "Wrongful Detention of Dead Body" a punishable offence.

Notably, the Statement of Objects and Reasons highlights that "there have been numerous reports of private hospitals and clinics detaining the dead bodies of patients until their families settle outstanding medical bills".

It cites examples of hospitals that "demand exorbitant advance deposits, sometimes as high as Rs2-4 million" and "withhold dead bodies even when outstanding dues are as low as Rs100, 000."

In practice, the statement argues that this "not only causes immense psychological harm to grieving families but also denies the deceased the right to timely burial and dignified last rites, which is a fundamental religious obligation in Islam and other religions." It adds that "the inviolability of human dignity does not cease upon death."

Meanwhile, the new section proposes a punishment of up to two years' imprisonment and/or a fine of Rs500, 000 for a first offence, and up to three years' imprisonment and/or a fine of Rs1 million for a second offence or detention beyond 24 hours. Exceptions are provided for autopsies or police investigations. The offence has been created compoundable by the legal heirs.

Meanwhile, the Anti-Rape (Investigation and Trial) (Amendment) Bill, moved by Bushra Anjum Butt, was additionally passed, with the committee observing that legislation aimed at strengthening the legal framework against rape should receive appropriate administration backing.

On the consumer side, the committee passed the Islamabad Consumers Protection (Amendment) Bill, additionally moved by Senator Zehri, to bring private healthcare under the 1995 Act. The bill targets undisclosed fees, non-itemised billing and demands for advance deposits before emergency treatment, and requires hospitals to publicly display fee schedules and provide itemised bills.

In practice, the committee expressed serious concern over reports that former parliamentarians were being required to obtain an NOC from the Ministry of Interior for the issuance of official passports and that their validity had been reduced from five years to one year. The minister of state for interior remarked only the internal approval procedure had been changed.

For context, the chairman directed that existing law must not be violated and that official passports be issued with five-year validity in accordance with the law. Further deliberation was deferred.

Notably, the Ministry of Interior additionally briefed the committee on worries regarding the unregulated employ of social media by minors, stating that a high-powered committee was working on proposals to regulate its apply by children.

Last week, a 35-year-old woman suffered burns when a man threw acid on her in Karachi's Upper Gizri area.

Earlier in June, 29-year-old Mahnoor Nasir was seriously injured at the Quetta Civil Hospital when another employee threw acid on her. The attacker, afterwards identified by police as Humayun Shah, was stated to have been kil­led in an encounter after law enforcers tra­ced him as he attempted to flee on a bus.

Meanwhile, Dr Nasir was shifted to Karachi after receiving initial treatment in Quetta.

In August, in a landmark judgement, the Supreme Court declared acid attacks more heinous than homicide, describing them as crimes that condemn victims to a "living death".

Iftikhar A. Khan is an Islamabad-based reporter for Dawn with over three decades of experience in journalism. He covers the parliament, the Election Commission of Pakistan, and the Interior Ministry.

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