Balochistan Women Parliamentary Caucus Decides to Accelerate Legislation Against Acid Attacks

Quetta: The Women Parliamentary Caucus (WPC) of the Balochistan Assembly has decided to expedite the legislative process aimed at preventing acid attacks in the province and ensuring the protection and rehabilitation of victims. To achieve this objective, approval has been granted for the establishment of a joint review committee.

The important decision was taken during a high-level consultative meeting held in the committee room of the Balochistan Assembly. The meeting was chaired by Deputy Speaker and Chairperson of the Women Parliamentary Caucus, Ghazala Gola.

Background of the Proposed Legislation and Provincial Statistics

During the session, Justice (Retd.) Kailash Nath Kohli provided a detailed briefing on Pakistan’s existing legal framework regarding acid attack crimes and the provincial draft legislation prepared in 2016.

According to official data presented by the Balochistan Home Department:

• Seven acid attack cases have been registered in Balochistan since 2021.
• Five of these cases were brought to a logical conclusion during 2022.

Members of the caucus emphasized the urgent need for comprehensive provincial legislation to regulate the open sale of acid and ensure strict punishment for offenders.

Key Objectives of the Joint Review Committee

The meeting agreed that a joint committee would be formed to review the 2016 draft bill and incorporate updated provisions to make the proposed legislation more effective. The new law will prioritize the following areas:

Monitoring the Sale of Acid: Bringing the sale and purchase of dangerous chemicals and acids under strict regulatory controls.

Protection and Rehabilitation of Victims: Ensuring medical, psychological, and social support for individuals affected by acid attacks.

Compensation and Legal Assistance: Providing prompt compensation to affected families and guaranteeing state-supported legal aid.

Recommendation to Include All Stakeholders

Chairperson Ghazala Gola stressed that representatives from the industry, health sector, prosecution department, Women Development Department, police, and senior legal experts should be included in the next phase of consultations to ensure that the law is comprehensive and effective.

She also highlighted the importance of working closely with the Assembly’s Home Committee to build political consensus around the proposed legislation.

The meeting was attended by caucus members Raheela Hameed Khan Durrani, Shahida Rauf, Farah Azim Shah, Kulsoom Niaz, Salma Kakar, and Shehnaz Umrani, along with representatives of UN Women and Assembly Special Secretary Abdul Rehman.

In her concluding remarks, Deputy Speaker Ghazala Gola reaffirmed the caucus’s commitment, stating:

"The Women Parliamentary Caucus remains committed to providing strong legal safeguards for the protection of vulnerable groups in Balochistan and for the elimination of all forms of violence."