- An accomplice to a domestic violence crime will face the same punishment.
- Courts empowered to issue security orders and grant custody.
- Domestic violence is defined as physical, sexual and psychological abuse.
Parliament approved a bill on Saturday that punishes threats of a second marriage or divorce to a wife with up to three years in prison.
Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) MP Sharmila Faruqui introduced the bill titled ‘Domestic Violence (Protection and Prevention) Act, 2026’, which aims to provide legal protection against abuse within domestic relationships in Islamabad.
The legislation defines domestic violence as any physical, sexual or psychological abuse committed against a woman, man, transgender person, child or other vulnerable individual.
According to the bill, psychological and verbal abuse includes, but is not limited to, the repeated display of obsessive jealousy that causes a repeated invasion of the victim’s privacy, freedom, integrity and safety; insults or ridicule directed at the offended person; threats to cause physical pain to the spouse or other members of the shared household; and threats of divorce or remarriage due to unfounded accusations of insanity or infertility.
False accusations about the character of a woman or any member of the shared household; intentional or negligent abandonment of the injured person; stalking; harassment; and forcing the wife to cohabit with someone other than the husband are also considered domestic violence, reads the content of the bill.
The legislation states that any crime that occurs within domestic relations will be prosecutable under the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC).
“If the crime is not included in the [PPC]”The act of domestic violence shall be punishable with simple imprisonment for a period of maximum three years and not less than six months, depending on the severity of the act of domestic violence committed, and a fine of Rs 100,000 and a minimum of Rs 20,000 as compensation shall also be paid to the aggrieved person,” the bill reads.
In case of non-payment of the fine, the court may impose a simple prison sentence of three months, while an accomplice to a crime of domestic violence will also be punished with the same penalty as provided for the crime.
Additionally, the bill defines physical abuse as any act committed physically against a vulnerable person, while sexual abuse is defined in the bill as any act of a sexual nature that violates or humiliates the affected person.
The bill allows an affected person to go to court, which must hold the first hearing within seven days and resolve the application within 90 days. The affected person will have the right to reside in the shared home or may choose to live in a foster home.
The courts will be empowered to issue protection orders ordering the accused not to repeat acts of violence and to refrain from any personal, verbal, written, electronic or telephone contact with the affected person.
The court may also require the defendant to maintain a specific distance from the victim.
In cases where there is a serious risk to the life, reputation or dignity of the person affected, the court may order the accused to evict the home. The court may also prohibit the accused’s family members from entering the residence and order the relevant police station officer to provide them with protection.
Under the new law, the court can also order the defendant to pay rent and other expenses, meet the financial needs of the affected person, return property or valuables, and provide compensation for economic abuse, loss of employment and medical expenses.
Alimony may also be ordered for the affected person and their children.
Custody of the affected person may be granted to a suitable person or authority. In the case of a child, custody will be decided according to the Guardians and Wards Act. Custody of an adult will require the consent of the affected person.
Violation of protection, residence or custody orders will be punishable by imprisonment of up to one year and a fine of Rs 100,000, payable to the affected party.
The offense under the law will be bailable, cognizable and compoundable. Appeals may be filed against judicial decisions within ten days.
