President Zardari approves domestic violence bill and six other laws

President Asif Ali Zardari on Monday approved the much-debated Domestic Violence (Prevention and Protection) Bill, 2026, along with six other bills passed by parliament.

According to a press release issued by the Presidential Secretariat, the legislation passed includes the National Tariff Commission (Amendment) Bill, 2026; Export Development Fund (Amendment) Bill, 2026; Railway Transfer (Amendment) Bill, 2026; Domestic Violence (Prevention and Protection) Bill, 2026; Danish School Authority Bill 2026; Income Tax (Amendment) Bill, 2026; and the National Human Rights Commission (Amendment) Bill, 2026.

Last week, a joint session of parliament passed the bills despite presidential objections, opposition protests and sloganeering in the House. The session was chaired by the Speaker of the National Assembly, Ayaz Sadiq.

During the session, President Zardari’s objections to the Daanish School Authority Bill and the Domestic Violence Bill were formally raised, with opposition lawmakers insisting that the President’s advice should not be ignored.

Regarding the Danish schools bill, the president objected that the federal government should consult the provinces before establishing authority.

Regarding the domestic violence bill, he called the legislation “vague” and expressed concern about the proposed punishments, advising that the bill should be reconsidered rather than passed in its current form.

Senator Kamran Murtaza, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Fazl, read the president’s advice in the house and said it was not being adhered to.

“The president called for consultation with the provinces on the bills, which is being ignored,” he said, adding that “the federation has invaded the boundaries of the provinces.”