Peshawar High Court Orders Government Response to Petition Demanding Acid Sales Regulation

PESHAWAR: The Peshawar High Court has directed the federal and provincial governments to respond to a petition seeking stricter regulation of acid and hazardous chemical sales in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, citing constitutional violations and rising safety concerns.

A two-member bench, comprising Justices Ijaz Anwar and Farah Jamshed, initiated proceedings after reviewing arguments from petitioners Aimen Jehangir and two co-lawyers. The filing, addressed to the federal and KP governments, asserts that unchecked retail distribution of corrosive substances contravenes Articles 4, 9, 14, and 25 of Pakistan’s constitution.

The petition demands formalized regulation under the 2011 Acid Control and Acid Crime Prevention Act, including mandatory seller licensing, biometric/CNIC verification for buyers, and secure storage/transport protocols. Petitioners emphasized the Act’s ineffectiveness as a deterrent due to acid’s unrestricted availability, which they argue fuels gender-based violence and public endangerment.

Petitioners insist unrestricted availability of corrosive substances is illegal

The court was informed that 40% of acid sales occur without oversight, enabling criminal exploitation. Petitioners further urged immediate implementation of standardized operating procedures governing the acid supply chain from production to retail, enforced by the KP home and health departments.

Lead attorney Ayesha Malik highlighted acid attacks as “acts of extreme barbarity” targeting victims’ mental and social stability. She referenced a June 2026 incident where a Quetta-based physician sustained acid injuries at her workplace, illustrating systemic safety failures. “The state’s inaction constitutes criminal negligence,” she argued, linking lax enforcement to constitutional rights violations.

The petition names multiple officials as respondents, including KP’s interior chief secretary, health secretary, inspector general of police, and heads of the KP Drug Control Authority and Pakistan Standard and Quality Control Authority.

Malik outlined specific regulatory demands: digital/physical customer logs for all acid vendors, mandatory documentation of purchase intent, and surprise inspections to ensure compliance. She also called for enhanced security measures in healthcare institutions and schools to protect stakeholders from violent intimidation.

The court’s order was reported in Dawn on July 18, 2026.

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