Parliament Moves to Tackle Domestic Violence, Approves Daanish Schools Authority Law
ISLAMABAD : Pakistan’s Parliament on Friday approved two key pieces of legislation in a joint sitting, passing the Domestic Violence (Prevention and Protection) Bill, 2025, and the Daanish Schools Authority Bill, 2025, by majority vote, despite objections and proposed amendments from opposition members.
The Domestic Violence (Prevention and Protection) Bill was moved by MNA Dr Sharmila Faruqui and adopted after the House rejected amendments submitted by MNA Aliya Kamran and Senator Kamran Murtaza, while approving amendments introduced by Dr Faruqui herself.
According to the statement of objects and reasons, domestic violence continues to be a widespread and deeply entrenched problem in Pakistan. Official data from the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics shows that one in three women in the country experiences some form of domestic abuse during her lifetime, underlining the scale and urgency of the issue.
The situation in the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) is described as equally troubling, with a steady rise in reported cases. The Federal Ombudsman for Protection Against Harassment has also flagged a growing number of domestic violence complaints in the federal capital, reinforcing calls for stronger and more effective legal safeguards.
The statement further notes that Pakistan, as a signatory to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), is bound by international commitments to eliminate gender-based violence and to ensure women’s right to live free from abuse. In particular, CEDAW’s General Recommendation obliges state parties to establish comprehensive legal frameworks to prevent domestic violence, protect victims, and provide accessible legal remedies and support.
The newly passed law seeks to align Pakistan’s domestic legal structure with these international obligations. It introduces stronger enforcement mechanisms, specialised support services, public awareness initiatives, and preventive education programmes. The legislation also предусматривает tougher penalties for offenders and enhanced legal protection for victims of domestic violence in the ICT.
Its stated objective is to significantly reduce domestic violence in the federal capital by creating a comprehensive framework focused on protection, support, and safety for victims. The law defines domestic violence in broad terms and addresses all forms of abuse — physical, emotional, psychological, and financial — while establishing clear preventive measures, legal remedies, and accountability mechanisms for perpetrators.
In a separate legislative move, the joint sitting also passed the Daanish Schools Authority Bill, 2025, tabled by Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Dr Tariq Fazl Chaudhry. As with the domestic violence legislation, amendments proposed by MNA Aliya Kamran and Senator Kamran Murtaza were rejected, while selected amendments introduced by Dr Chaudhry were accepted before the bill was approved by the House.
