File photo of the impact of just a small quantity of acid on the hands, arms. PHOTO: AFP/FILE
The Peshawar High Court (PHC) observed on Wednesday that a lack of appropriate legislation governing the sale and usage of acid has resulted in an increased number of acid burn cases in the region.
On a number of occasions, the court has instructed the government to strictly regulate the sale of acid in order to curb the frequent attacks on women.
Chief Justice Dost Muhammad Khan was hearing the bail application of Muhammad Saeed. The petitioner was arrested by the Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF) for smuggling chemicals which could be used for acid production.
The petitioner’s counsel Hussain Ali Advocate informed the court that his client was arrested by ANF in Darra Adam Khel on grounds of transporting internationally prohibited chemicals in bulk. He added the ANF also alleged these chemicals could be used for drug manufacturing.
Ali further said his client was a licenced chemical dealer. The licence was issued by the ANF division in Islamabad. He added the chemicals his client was transporting were not governed by the laws of ANF and hence the charges against Saeed lacked substance.
The PHC chief justice said licensed chemical dealers could sell chemicals to militants who could use them for all the wrong reasons. Khan added that legislation regulating the sale of acid is already in place but there are many loopholes in its implementation as acid is openly available in markets.
The court accepted the application and ordered bail for Muhammad Saeed, as the chemicals recovered from him are not regulated by the Anti-Narcotics Act.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 10th, 2013.
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