Status of domestic violence legislation in Pakistan:
1. Sindh passed a law in 2013
The law defines domestic violence broadly to include physical, psychological, sexual, and economic abuse; covers a range of domestic relationships; and specifically criminalises the practice
1. Sindh passed a law in 2013
The law defines domestic violence broadly to include physical, psychological, sexual, and economic abuse; covers a range of domestic relationships; and specifically criminalises the practice
2. Balochistan passed a similar law in 2014
While it provides for civil remedies such as protection/residence orders, it doesn’t criminalise domestic violence that isn’t already an offence under PPC
It also defines domestic relationship more broadly to include domestic help
While it provides for civil remedies such as protection/residence orders, it doesn’t criminalise domestic violence that isn’t already an offence under PPC
It also defines domestic relationship more broadly to include domestic help
3. Punjab passed a domestic violence law in 2016
Like the Balochistan law, the Punjab law defines domestic violence broadly but doesn’t specifically criminalise the practice
Instead, it provides victims a range of civil remedies such as protection/residence/monetary orders
Like the Balochistan law, the Punjab law defines domestic violence broadly but doesn’t specifically criminalise the practice
Instead, it provides victims a range of civil remedies such as protection/residence/monetary orders
4. A number of bills against domestic violence have been tabled unsuccessfully in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa assembly
In 2016, the provincial government referred one such bill to the Council of Islamic Ideology, which found multiple provisions to be against Islam
In 2016, the provincial government referred one such bill to the Council of Islamic Ideology, which found multiple provisions to be against Islam
