The law aims to provide a legal framework to protect women from domestic abuse, ensuring prompt redressal of complaints.
KP assembly in session. PHOTO: AFP
Four years after the passing of the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Domestic Violence (Prevention and Protection) Act, 2021, the provincial government is yet to establish district-level committees tasked with curbing domestic violence against women.
The law, passed by the KP Assembly in 2021, aimed to provide a legal framework to protect women from domestic violence and ensure prompt redress of complaints. The amendment bill was introduced by Pakistan People’s Party legislator Nighat Orakzai, who also played a key role in drafting it.
At her insistence, the law stipulated that each district committee be headed by a female member of the provincial assembly. In districts where no women MPA are elected, the Deputy Commissioner was appointed to act as the chairman of the committee.
However, despite the legal requirement, the formation of these committees has been repeatedly delayed. Sources revealed that the Social Welfare Department raised procedural objections, halting the process.
Former Social Welfare Minister Syed Qasim Ali Shah confirmed that the decision to form the committees had been taken and an official notification was being prepared when the provincial cabinet was dissolved. “The process will resume once the new cabinet is in place,” he said.
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KP Commission on the Status of Women (KPCSW) chairperson Dr Sumaira Shams also acknowledged the delays and stated that the commission has formally approached the government to resolve the objections. “There was concern over the appointment of assembly members as some female legislators have been assigned to committees outside their home districts,” he said.
Meanwhile, the provincial assembly has issued a notification appointing women AMPs for representation in district women protection committees. The list includes Sitara Afrin for Dera Ismail Khan, Aiman Jaleel for Mohmand, Madina Gul Afridi for Khyber, Rabia Shaheen for Kurram, Nilofer Begum for Bannu, Naheeda Noor for Bajaur, Arifa Bibi for Lower Chitral and several others across the province.
Some lawmakers, however, have expressed concern about being excluded from committees in their own congressional districts. AMP Rehana Ismail said The express PAkGazette that he had contacted the Assembly Secretariat regarding the objections of members who were assigned to other districts.
It may be recalled that in January this year, four years after the legislation was passed, the KP government finally established committees to end violence against women in the province. Due to lack of female members of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Provincial Assembly, the committees will be headed by women opposition members, and one committee will be headed by the vice president.
The KP Assembly passed a law in 2021 to prevent domestic violence against women. At the time, Orakzai had proposed an amendment to the law to ensure that committees formed under it were headed by female assembly members. The House had approved the amendment.
In 2023, Orakzai raised the issue of non-enforcement of the law. The issue was also raised in the Standing Committee on Social Welfare. After Orakzai raised his voice on the matter, the government established work rules that were approved by the then provincial cabinet.
