KARACHI: An antiterrorism court on Wednesday awarded life imprisonment to an accused for throwing acid on a schoolteacher over a marriage proposal.

Mohammad Sohail was found guilty of burning the face and eyes of Ahmer Iqbal after he refused to withdraw from marrying his colleague Asra, whom the convict also wanted to marry.

On Wednesday, the ATC-VII judge, who conducted trial in the judicial complex inside the central prison, pronounced his verdict.

The judge observed that Iqbal had lost both his eyes and was blinded by the acid attack, therefore, it was the state’s responsibility to provide treatment and compensation to the victim for the human rights violation he suffered.

“The redress can include treatment of the victim and monetary compensation. Many acid survivors undergo numerous complicated surgical procedures which are very costly and require particular expertise and facilities either in Pakistan or in a foreign country,” he noted.

The judge said that looking at the social and financial conditions of the victim, the expenses for his medical treatment and procedures at private health facilities, whether available in the country or abroad, should be paid by the treasury of the government of Sindh.

Therefore, the judge asked the Sindh chief secretary to undertake responsibility regarding the provision of free medical treatment and basic needs to the victim till his full recovery and ability to earn his livelihood. He directed the office to send a copy to the chief secretary for compliance.

According to the prosecution, Sohail and Asra were teachers at the same school in Shah Faisal Colony when they developed a relationship. Thereafter he sent a marriage proposal which she and her parents refused to accept.

The state prosecutor said that on April 29, 2016, Sohail called Iqbal outside his house, saying that he had brought a present for him. As Iqbal came out, the accused was holding a plastic mug full of acid, which he threw on the victim’s face and escaped.

He was rushed to the Hill Park General Hospital for treatment and afterwards shifted to the burns ward at Dr Ruth Pfau Civil Hospital.

The prosecutor said the victim was left completely blind, while he also suffered burns on his face, eyes, neck and hands. He asked the court to punish him according to the law.

On the other hand, the defence counsel denied allegations levelled against the accused by the prosecution, arguing that his client was innocent, but police framed him in the present case.

A case was registered under Section 336-B (punishment for hurt by corrosive substance) of the Pakistan Penal Code read with Section 7 (punishment for acts of terrorism) of the Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997 at the Shah Faisal police station on the victim’s complaint.

Published in Dawn, August 12th, 2021