Islamabad (Web Desk): The joint session of Parliament on Friday passed two important bills — the Domestic Violence (Prevention and Protection) Bill, 2025, and the Daanish Schools Authority Bill, 2025 — both of which were approved by majority vote.
The domestic violence legislation, presented by MNA Dr Sharmila Faruqui, was passed after the house voted down amendments put forward by MNA Aliya Kamran and Senator Kamran Murtaza, while incorporating changes proposed by Dr Faruqui.
The bill’s accompanying statement of objectives and reasons stresses that domestic abuse continues to be a serious and widespread issue across Pakistan, supported by disturbing national statistics.
Data referenced from the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics reveals that roughly one in every three women in the country endures some form of domestic violence during her lifetime.
The document adds that the situation in the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) is also troubling, with a noticeable rise in reported incidents.
It highlights that the Federal Ombudsman for Protection Against Harassment has pointed to an increasing number of domestic violence complaints in the federal capital, underscoring the urgency for stronger legal protections.
The statement also draws attention to Pakistan’s international commitments as a signatory to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW).
Under this treaty, the country is bound to take steps to eliminate gender-based violence and ensure women can live free from abuse. CEDAW’s General Recommendation calls on member states to establish comprehensive legal structures that both prevent domestic violence and guarantee survivors access to protection and justice.
This newly enacted law aims to bring Pakistan’s legal framework in line with those global obligations.
It sets out stronger implementation measures, specialised support services, awareness campaigns and preventive education efforts. The law also introduces tougher penalties for offenders and enhanced legal safeguards for victims of domestic abuse in the federal capital.
As outlined in the bill’s stated purpose, the central objective is to significantly reduce domestic violence in the ICT by creating a broad legal structure that ensures victims receive protection, assistance and security.
The legislation defines domestic violence in clear terms, lays down preventive steps and ensures accessible legal remedies and support systems. It also focuses on holding abusers accountable and seeks to end violence in all its forms, including physical, emotional, psychological and financial abuse.
During the same sitting, Parliament also approved the Daanish Schools Authority Bill, 2025, which was moved by Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Dr Tariq Fazl Chaudhry.
Similar to the earlier legislation, amendments proposed by MNA Aliya Kamran and Senator Kamran Murtaza were rejected, while certain revisions suggested by Dr Chaudhry were adopted before the bill was passed.