KARACHI:The Sindh High Court (SHC) on Wednesday issued notices to the Sindh chief secretary, the home secretary, and other officials on a petition against the sale of acid.
A two-member bench of the SHC, headed by Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar, heard the petition filed by an acid attack survivor, Ahmar Iqbal.
The petitioner stated that the acid is being sold openly at multiple shops across the Sindh province in violation of laws. He requested the court to issue orders to stop the sale of this dangerous chemical.
Justice Mazhar remarked: “Acid is also being used for washing clothes and cleaning washroom.”
The petitioner’s lawyer argued that cleaning acid sold around the world is not so dangerous. But, acid sold in Pakistan is dangerous. The lawyer said that they want a ban on the sale of the acid that burns the human body.
“Laws were made but even today acid is being sold openly,” affected citizen Ahmar Iqbal stated. The petitioner stated that 2011 legislation to stop the acid attacks had proved useless.
He stated that the Supreme Court had given the strict verdict on the acid attacks; it is not possible to stop the acid attacks without stopping the sale of open acid. The petitioner pleaded the court to direct the authorities to launch a crackdown against the acid sale.
The court issued notices to the Home Ministry, Chief Secretary Sindh, and others and ordered to the parties to submit a reply by February 10.