For decades, abuse inside the home was treated as a private matter in Pakistan. That has changed. Following the 18th Constitutional Amendment, which devolved the subject to the provinces, each region passed its own domestic violence law creating fast, civil-style remedies that sit alongside the criminal law. This guide sets out which law applies where you live, what abuse the courts recognise, the orders you can ask for, exactly how to file, and the evidence that makes a case stand up.
The provincial domestic violence laws
There is no single federal domestic violence act. Instead, five separate laws cover the country. They differ in detail but share the same core remedies: protection, residence and monetary orders.
| Region | Governing law | Forum |
|---|---|---|
| Punjab | Protection of Women against Violence Act 2016 | Court / Women Protection Officer |
| Sindh | Domestic Violence (Prevention and Protection) Act 2013 | Court of Judicial Magistrate / Family Court |
| Balochistan | Domestic Violence (Prevention and Protection) Act 2014 | Court of Judicial Magistrate |
| Khyber Pakhtunkhwa | Domestic Violence against Women (Prevention and Protection) Act 2021 | Court / Protection Committee |
| Islamabad (ICT) | Domestic Violence (Prevention and Protection) Act 2020 | Court of Judicial Magistrate |
Serious physical violence can, in parallel, be prosecuted under the Pakistan Penal Code as hurt (sections 332 to 337), criminal intimidation (section 506) or assault. The provincial acts are designed to give quicker protective relief while any criminal case runs its course.
What counts as domestic violence
The provincial laws deliberately define violence broadly. It is not limited to physical assault. Depending on the statute, the recognised forms include:
- Physical abuse - beating, hitting, causing hurt or bodily pain.
- Emotional and psychological abuse - threats, intimidation, harassment, insults and controlling behaviour.
- Economic abuse - denying maintenance, taking earnings, or preventing access to shared resources.
- Sexual abuse - conduct that abuses, humiliates or degrades.
- Stalking and cybercrime - following, watching, or unwanted contact.
The relationship covered is wide too - a spouse, former spouse, family members related by blood or marriage, and people sharing a household. This means a wife, daughter, sister, mother or domestic worker may all seek protection.
Protection, residence and monetary orders
The heart of every provincial act is a set of court orders tailored to keep a victim safe and financially secure. A court can pass one or several at once.
| Order | What it does |
|---|---|
| Interim order | Immediate, temporary relief at the first hearing before the case is fully decided. |
| Protection order | Stops the abuser from committing further violence, contacting the victim, or approaching her home, workplace or children's school. In Punjab, the court may order a GPS tracker on the defendant. |
| Residence order | Secures the victim's right to remain in the shared home and bars the abuser or his family from evicting her - regardless of who owns the property. |
| Monetary order | Directs the abuser to pay for loss of earnings, medical costs, damage to property, and maintenance for the victim and children. |
Important: a monetary order for maintenance under a domestic violence law does not replace your separate right to claim maintenance in the family court. See our guides on wife maintenance (nan-o-nafqa) and child maintenance.
How to file: step by step
The procedure below follows the Punjab Act, which is the most detailed. Sindh, Balochistan, KP and Islamabad follow a similar magistrate-court route.
- Decide who files. The aggrieved person, a person she authorises, or a Women Protection Officer may submit the complaint.
- Choose the right court. File where the aggrieved person resides or works, where the defendant resides or works, or where the couple last lived together.
- Submit the complaint. Set out the incidents, the relief sought, and attach your evidence. In Punjab, a Women Protection Centre (such as the one in Multan) and a helpline can assist.
- First hearing within seven days. The court must fix the first date of hearing no later than seven days from receiving the complaint, and can grant an interim order at once.
- Notice to the defendant. The court issues a show-cause notice requiring the defendant to respond, typically within seven days.
- Final orders. After hearing both sides, the court passes protection, residence and/or monetary orders. These remain in force for the period the court specifies.
You do not need to have filed for divorce or khula to seek protection, and doing so does not weaken a later family suit. Many women pursue protection alongside a khula or custody case.
Evidence that strengthens your case
Domestic violence cases turn on proof. Because much abuse happens behind closed doors, build your record early and carefully:
- Medico-legal certificate (MLC) - obtained from a government hospital after any physical injury; this is often the single strongest document.
- Photographs of injuries and property damage, with dates.
- Medical and prescription records from treatment received.
- Police record - an application to the police station or a registered First Information Report (FIR).
- Digital evidence - threatening text messages, WhatsApp chats, call logs, emails and voice notes.
- Witnesses - statements from family members, neighbours or domestic staff who saw or heard incidents.
- A dated incident diary recording what happened, when and where.
Penalties for breaching an order
A protection order has teeth: ignoring it is a fresh offence. Under the Punjab Act the penalties are:
| Conduct | Punishment |
|---|---|
| Breaching an interim, protection, residence or monetary order (or tampering with a GPS tracker) | Up to 1 year imprisonment, or a fine of PKR 50,000 to 200,000, or both |
| Breaching an order more than once | Up to 2 years imprisonment, not less than 1 year |
| Giving false information known to be false | Up to 3 months imprisonment, or a fine of PKR 50,000 to 100,000, or both |
Penalties, procedures and any prescribed court fees vary by province and can change; district practice differs as well. For an accurate, current picture in your area, speak to a family lawyer - our domestic violence and abuse team can act quickly to secure interim protection.
Frequently asked questions
Is domestic violence a crime in Pakistan?
Yes. Each province and Islamabad has its own domestic violence law - Punjab (2016), Sindh (2013), Balochistan (2014), KP (2021) and ICT (2020). Physical abuse can also be prosecuted under the Pakistan Penal Code as hurt or assault.
What is a protection order?
A court direction stopping the abuser from further violence, from contacting the victim, or from entering her home or workplace. Courts can also pass residence and monetary orders.
How do I file a complaint in Punjab?
The aggrieved person, an authorised person, or a Women Protection Officer files in the court where she lives, where the defendant lives, or where they last lived together. The first hearing must be within seven days.
What is the punishment for breaching a protection order?
Under the Punjab Act, up to one year imprisonment or a fine of PKR 50,000 to 200,000, or both. A repeat breach can attract up to two years, with a minimum of one year.
What evidence do I need?
A medico-legal certificate, photographs, medical records, a police report or FIR, threatening messages, call logs, witness statements, and a dated incident diary.
Can I stay in the marital home during the case?
Yes. A residence order can bar the abuser and his family from evicting you from the shared household, whoever owns it.