ISLAMABAD:
The joint session of Parliament on Friday passed three bills – the Daanish School Authority Bill, 2025, the Human Rights (Amendment) Bill, 2025 and the Domestic Violence (Prevention and Protection) Bill, 2025 – amid protests from the opposition.
During the session, opposition members, led by opposition leaders in the Senate and National Assembly (Abbas and Mehmood Khan Achakzai), gathered near the president’s dais and protested against the bills.
President Asif Ali Zardari had returned the bills last month despite their approval by parliament.
Regarding the bill on the authority of Danish schools, a statement from the Presidency quoted Zardari as saying: “In the case of the establishment of Danish schools in the provinces, prior consultation with the respective provincial governments is essential.”
When the bill on the Danish school authority was introduced in the joint session, the JUI-F opposed it. JUI-F Senator Murtaza maintained that President Zardari had returned the bill unsigned and termed it contrary to the Constitution. However, the bill was passed.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Chaudhry introduced the Human Rights (Amendment) Bill, 2025, while PPP MNA Shazia Marri also proposed an amendment to the legislation, both of which were passed.
The JUI-F also recommended some amendments to the bill, which were rejected.
PPP’s Sharmila Faruqui introduced the Domestic Violence (Prevention and Protection) Bill, which was passed amid protests by opposition members.
JUI-F chief Rehman called the legislation “unconstitutional and illegal” and demanded that it be referred to the Council of Islamic Ideology. He said the bill was contrary to Islam.
Defending the legislation, Minister of State for Home Affairs Tallal Chaudhry maintained that the bill would provide protection not only to women but also to men.
According to the statement of objects and reasons of the National Human Rights Commission (Amendment) Bill, 2025, the amendment seeks to remove ambiguities in the law and has been introduced in compliance with the direction of the cabinet in the light of the judgment of the Supreme Court (PLD 2016 SC 808).
According to the statement of objects and reasons of the Domestic Violence (Prevention and Protection) Bill, domestic violence remains a widespread problem in Pakistan, with alarming statistics highlighting its widespread nature.
Data cited by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics shows that one in three women in the country experience some form of domestic abuse during their lifetime.
The situation in the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) is described as equally worrying, with a notable increase in cases reported to the authorities.
The statement notes that the Federal Ombudsman for Protection Against Harassment has also highlighted the increasing number of reports of domestic violence in the ICT, pointing out the urgent need for stricter legal measures.
It further states that as a signatory to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), Pakistan is committed to eliminating gender-based violence and ensuring women’s right to live free from abuse.
In particular, the CEDAW General Recommendation obliges States Parties to adopt comprehensive legal frameworks to prevent and address domestic violence and provide victims with adequate legal support and resources.
The new law seeks to align Pakistan’s domestic legal framework with these international ones. ““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““ ““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““ ““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““` “““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““`l commitments by introducing stricter enforcement mechanisms, specialized support services, public awareness campaigns and preventive education programmes.
It also proposes stricter penalties for offenders and better legal protection for victims of domestic violence in the federal capital.
The objective of the bill, according to the statement, is to significantly reduce domestic violence in ICT by establishing a comprehensive legal framework that ensures the protection, support and safety of victims.
The legislation aims to define domestic violence, outline preventative measures, and provide accessible legal resources and support systems, while holding perpetrators accountable and working to eliminate abuse in all its forms, including physical, emotional, psychological, and financial violence.
Following the passage of the bill, the joint session remained sine die.
