60 years incarceration awarded to perpetrator of acid attack

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In this picture taken March 16, 2012 in Multan, shows household needs vendor shows acid (C) he sells with a very cheap price, 40 Pakistan rupees (0.44 USD). Acid attacks are among the worst forms of domestic violence in Pakistan and mostly directed at women, who are too often classified as second class citizens. Victims are disfigured for life and ostracised by society. Pakistan's parliament last year adopted tougher penalties for the crime, increasing the punishment to between 14 years and life, and a minimum fine of one million rupees (11,000 USD). AFP PHOTO / Bay ISMOYO

LAHORE: A young woman who was disfigured by an acid attack in September got some semblance of justice after the perpetrator was awarded 60 years in jail as a punishment for carrying out the attack by an anti-terrorism court.

According to reports, Asmatullah after being rejected by the victim in a matrimonial proposal threw acid on her which disfigured the face of the 24-year-old and damaged her eyes.

The police had arrested the culprit from his hometown of Bhakkar where he had taken refuge at an outhouse of a local politician. The police had registered the case against Asmatullah on terrorism charges in addition to some sections of the Pakistan Penal Code.

The trial court’s judge, Sajjad Ahmad, also imposed a fine of Rs3.9 million on the convict which will be paid to the victim as compensation. The man had been sentenced to 25 years in jail on two counts under Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997, while another 10 years under Section 324 of the PPC