KARACHI: A man who flung acid on his wife was given a 14-year severe prison sentence by a sessions court.
Kausar Abbas was found guilty by Additional District and Sessions Judge (East) Muhammad Ilyas Memon of the gender-based court for hurling acid at his wife Saima, who had 31% of her body burned.
In addition, the court fined Rs. 1 million and ordered that the complainant get the money as restitution; if the fine was not paid, the guilty party would be sentenced to an extra six months in jail.
The court noted that the accused’s addiction “seems to be the root cause of his aggression, which steered him to commit this offence,” as it caused his wife to move back to her parents’ house and raised questions about her adulterous affair, as shown by the charge sheet.
State prosecutor Kubra Syed claims that complainant Saima said in her hospital statement that her spouse was drug addicted and would frequently seek her for money so he could acquire drugs.
She moved out of their house and resided with her brother because of his actions. Her spouse visited the home on March 19, 2021, and requested more cash so he could purchase drugs. But when the complainant didn’t agree, he threatened her and threw an acid bottle at her, burning her.
After hearing her cries, a neighbor drove her to the hospital.
The defense, on the other hand, said that the complainant had falsely charged their client, citing the police, her brother, and mother as witnesses.
Though she implicated her husband, the court pointed out that the FIR was filed as soon as the police met her in a hospital after the incident, and it meant she didn’t have time to speak with the police and falsely accuse him.
The victim gave her evidence in a natural way, the court noted, and she stayed true to herself when being questioned by the other party. The court also concluded that the victim’s testimony was credible and trustworthy.
The court stated that the fact that the victim’s clothing was not taken into custody by the police as evidence points to the investigating officer’s negligence in this regard. Since the victim and others are not legal specialists, this cannot be attributed to them.
