It often starts with a slap. Then come the insults, the threats, and the control over money. And when a woman finally goes to the police, she is told to go home and settle it. This is a family matter, they say.
The law disagrees. Pakistan now has dedicated domestic violence laws in every province and in Islamabad. This guide explains what they cover, what you can ask a court to do, and where to get help.
What counts as domestic violence in Pakistan?
The newest law, the Domestic Violence (Prevention and Protection) Act 2026, applies to Islamabad. It covers physical, emotional, psychological, sexual and economic abuse. It protects women, men, transgender people, children, the elderly and people with disabilities.
The law names specific acts as abuse:
- Hitting, hurting, or any physical harm.
- Insults, ridicule, and degrading treatment.
- Stalking and harassment.
- Threats of divorce or a second marriage based on baseless claims about a woman's sanity or her ability to have children.
- False accusations against a woman's character.
- Leaving a wife without support, or forcing her to live with someone else.
- Taking away her money or stopping her from earning.
Physical violence is also a crime on its own under the Pakistan Penal Code. Assault, hurt, and criminal intimidation are offences whether they happen on the street or inside a home.
Which law applies where you live?
Every province has its own law:
- Sindh was first. Its Domestic Violence (Prevention and Protection) Act 2013 was passed in March 2013.
- Balochistan passed its own Act in 2014.
- Punjab passed the Protection of Women Against Violence Act 2016.
- Khyber Pakhtunkhwa passed its Domestic Violence Against Women Act in 2021.
- Islamabad now has the Domestic Violence (Prevention and Protection) Act 2026, passed by a joint sitting of Parliament in January 2026.
All five laws give courts the same basic tools. The details differ, so the law that applies is the one where you live, or where you last lived with the person.
What can a court order for you?
You do not need to file a criminal case to get protection. The domestic violence laws let a court pass civil orders quickly. The main ones:
- A protection order. The abuser must stop the violence, stop contacting you, and stay away from you, your home, and your workplace.
- A residence order. You keep the right to live in the shared house, even if it is in his name. In serious cases the court can order him to leave.
- Monetary relief. The court can order payment for medical costs, lost earnings, and maintenance for you and your children.
- A custody order for children, temporary or final.
The interim order is the important one. If you are in danger, the court can grant these orders at the first hearing, before the full case is decided.
How long does it take?
Under the Islamabad law, the first hearing is fixed within seven days of your petition. The petition has to be decided within 90 days.
Punjab uses a summary trial with the same 90 day target. Sindh also works to a 90 day limit. Courts are slow everywhere, but these laws set deadlines on purpose.
What happens to the person who uses violence?
Under the Islamabad Act, domestic violence carries six months to three years in prison and a fine that goes to the victim as compensation. The fine starts at Rs 20,000.
In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa the punishment is one to five years in prison plus a fine.
Breaking a protection order is its own offence. In Sindh it is treated as a cognizable offence, which means the police must register it. In KP it carries up to one year in prison or a fine up to Rs 300,000.
Is the Punjab law still valid?
Yes. It was challenged in the Federal Shariat Court as against Islam. On 29 November 2022, in Muhammad Ibrahim Khan v Province of Punjab, the court upheld the law. It held that Islam gives women the right to access justice and does not allow a man to hit his wife. The court also upheld the GPS bracelet that courts can order in grave cases.
That ruling matters beyond Punjab. The same objection is raised against every domestic violence law, and the court has already answered it.
Where to get help
Start with a helpline. They are free and they keep your details private:
- 1043 for Punjab. It runs round the clock with women staff.
- 1094 for Sindh.
- 1099 for the national helpline run by the Ministry of Human Rights.
- 15 is the police emergency line.
If the violence is a crime, ask for an FIR. That is the formal complaint that starts a criminal case. If the police refuse to record it, the law lets you go to the magistrate, who can order the FIR to be registered. You can read what an FIR is and how it works.
In Punjab, Women Protection Centers bring police, medical examination, counselling, legal help, and shelter under one roof. You can also approach the court directly. In Islamabad the petition goes to the Family Court. In Sindh it goes to a Magistrate. In KP it goes to the District and Sessions Judge. You can file on your own, and if you cannot afford a lawyer, free legal aid in Pakistan is available.
Shelter homes and hospitals have duties too. In Sindh, a shelter home cannot refuse you shelter, and a hospital cannot refuse medical help or charge you for the medical report.
The honest part
The laws are strong. The enforcement is not. Police still treat domestic violence as a family matter, and the 2026 Act depends on rules and Protection Officers that take time to set up.
That does not change what the law says. Violence inside the home is an offence. You have a right to protection orders. A court can act within days when you are in danger.
If you or someone you know is facing this, call a helpline today. The first call does not commit you to anything. It just tells you what your options are.
Related reading
If you are thinking of leaving the marriage, read how a woman can ask for khula in Pakistan. To understand the criminal side, read what an FIR is. And if you cannot afford a lawyer, free legal aid in Pakistan covers your options. More legal guides are on the Lexiber blog, and you can start from the Lexiber home page.
Ask Lexiber free in English or Urdu. It shows you the exact section behind every answer.
