Details of the newly enacted Domestic Violence and Protection Act 2025 have come to light, introducing stringent punishments for domestic abuse and categorising threats of unjustified divorce or second marriage as criminal offences. The bill was passed during a joint session of Parliament and was presented by Pakistan Peoples Party leader Sharmila Faruqi.
The law adopts a comprehensive definition of domestic violence, encompassing physical, emotional, psychological, verbal, sexual, and economic abuse. Physical violence includes assault and offences already covered under the Pakistan Penal Code, while psychological abuse extends to humiliation, verbal insults, threats, and actions intended to instil fear. Threats of unjustified divorce or remarriage are also explicitly recognised as acts of domestic violence.
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The act further classifies false allegations against a woman or any household member’s character, as well as intentional abandonment or neglect, as abuse. Continuous surveillance, harassment, and interference in an individual’s private life are criminalised. Forcing someone to live with a person other than their lawful spouse is also deemed an offence. Any sexual act that undermines dignity or self-respect is defined as sexual violence, while economic abuse includes withholding household expenses, denying access to financial resources, or exerting undue financial control.
Under the law, offenders found guilty of domestic violence may face six months to three years of imprisonment, along with a minimum compensation of Rs. 20,000 payable to the victim. Failure to pay the fine can result in an additional three months in jail. Individuals who aid or facilitate abuse will be held equally liable.
The act also lays out clear legal procedures. A victim or a designated protection officer may file a petition in the court of the area where the victim resides or where the shared residence is located. Courts are required to fix the first hearing within seven days and may issue interim protection orders during the same period. All cases must be decided within 90 days.
Courts are empowered to bar the accused from contacting the victim through any means, including phone calls, messages, or social media, and may impose restrictions on physical proximity. In serious cases, the accused can be ordered to vacate the shared residence or submit a surety bond to ensure the safety of the victim and any children involved. Courts may also direct police authorities to provide immediate protection.
