Overview
- President Asif Ali Zardari on Jan. 26 signed the Domestic Violence (Prevention and Protection) Bill, 2026, making it enforceable nationwide alongside six other measures.
- The law criminalises physical, emotional, psychological, sexual and economic abuse, with emotional abuse defined to include threats of divorce or a second marriage, stalking and repeated humiliation.
- Protections extend to women, men, transgender persons, children and other vulnerable individuals in current or former domestic relationships within households.
- Acts already covered by the Pakistan Penal Code remain under existing statutes, while offences not defined there carry penalties of six months to three years in prison, fines up to Rs100,000 and at least Rs20,000 in victim compensation; abettors face the same penalties.
- Zardari had previously called parts of the draft vague and questioned punishments, and he also urged provincial consultation on the separate Daanish Schools Authority Bill included in the package.