Laws on Paper, Violence in Reality: Pakistan's Unfinished Battle for Women's Safety

Gender-based violence (GBV) continues to be one of the most pressing human rights issues faced by Pakistan. While the Constitution provides for women's rights, legislative reforms have been introduced, and women are increasingly being recognised as a group vulnerable to violence, domestic abuse, rape, honour killings and forced marriages continue to occur in various forms. These include acid attacks, femicide and technology-facilitated harassment.

Despite the advancements made in 2025 and 2026 to strengthen the legal and policy framework, persistent incidents of violence highlight entrenched patriarchal practices, institutional vulnerabilities and weak enforcement systems. The murder of 17-year-old social media influencer Sana Yousaf, the honour killing in Balochistan, the Rawalpindi murder of Hina Javed and the rise of digital violence clearly illustrate that GBV is much more than a private or cultural concern; it is a structural violation of fundamental human rights. Thus, Pakistan's response needs to go beyond legislation and focus on effective implementation, institutional accountability, social transformation and survivor-centred justice.

The available statistics clearly demonstrate that the situation remains alarming. From January to November 2025, Sahil reported 6,543 incidents compared to 5,253 during the same period in 2024, representing an increase of approximately 25 per cent. Furthermore, Sahil's *Six Months Cruel Numbers Report*, covering January–June 2026, documented 3,172 incidents of crime, including murder, torture, abduction, rape and honour killing. Approximately 74 per cent of these reported cases were from Punjab.

These statistics represent reported incidents and do not necessarily reflect the actual prevalence of violence. Many survivors refrain from reporting abuse because of social stigma, economic dependency, fear of retaliation, family pressure or limited access to justice. The available figures should therefore be considered indicators of the magnitude of the problem rather than a complete picture of the situation.

The incidents of 2025 and 2026 highlight the various forms of gender-based violence prevalent in Pakistan. The murder of Sana Yousaf in Islamabad in June 2025 was one of the most widely publicised cases of violence against women. The 17-year-old social media influencer was shot dead at her home. The incident generated nationwide debate and raised serious concerns about stalking, women's independence, rejection of unwanted advances and physical violence. In May 2026, the court sentenced the accused to death, bringing renewed attention to criminal accountability and the protection of women and girls.

Similarly, the honour killing in Balochistan in July 2025 exposed the continuation of patriarchal traditions and parallel justice systems. Footage of the killing circulated on social media, generating widespread public outrage. The couple was allegedly killed over their marriage without family consent. The case highlighted the dangers of traditional power structures, particularly their impact on women's autonomy and freedom to choose their marriage partners.

Violence against women remained a major concern in 2026. The death of Hina Javed in Rawalpindi in August 2026 and the subsequent protests highlighted the dangers women face within their own homes. Such incidents demonstrate the importance of recognising domestic violence as a public and institutional concern rather than merely a private family matter. During the same period, reports of acid attacks, rape, kidnapping, torture and beheading allegedly connected with family disputes and marriage-related issues further illustrated the widespread nature of gender-based violence. Collectively, these incidents demonstrate that women experience violence in public, private and virtual spaces.

Despite the persistence of violence, Pakistan witnessed several significant legal and institutional developments during this period. The Islamabad Capital Territory Child Marriage Restraint Act 2025 established 18 years as the minimum marriage age for both boys and girls. Balochistan enacted the Child Marriages Restraint Act in November 2025 to strengthen legal protection against child marriage, and in April 2026 the Punjab government enacted the Punjab Child Marriage Restraint Bill to further enforce the minimum marriage age of 18 years.

Another significant development was the passage of the Domestic Violence (Prevention and Protection) Act 2026 in Islamabad Capital Territory. The legislation recognises various forms of domestic abuse, including physical, psychological, emotional, sexual and financial abuse. It also incorporates provisions for victim protection orders and institutional support for survivors.

An important policy initiative followed in March 2026 with the launch of the National Strategy to Counter Technology-Facilitated Gender-Based Violence. Developed by the Ministry of Human Rights in collaboration with UNDP, the strategy addresses cyberstalking, online harassment, image-based abuse, digital intimidation and technology-enabled exploitation. These initiatives reflect a growing institutional understanding that gender-based violence cannot be addressed exclusively through the criminal justice system. Their effectiveness, however, depends on implementation, institutional capacity, accessible reporting mechanisms and judicial accountability.

Technology-facilitated violence is an emerging challenge in its own right. Digital transformation has created new opportunities for women's education, employment, political participation and social engagement, but it has also expanded the ways in which women can be subjected to harassment, intimidation and exploitation. Such violence includes cyberstalking and online threats, the sharing of intimate images without consent, digital impersonation and identity theft, online sexual harassment, and coordinated digital intimidation and abuse. Women engaged in public discussions, digital businesses and social media activities are particularly exposed.

The murder of Sana Yousaf renewed discussions about the relationship between online visibility, stalking and offline violence. Although digital harassment differs from physical violence, both can overlap and intensify threats to women's safety. The national strategy represents an important step towards addressing this challenge. Nevertheless, implementation requires specialised cybercrime investigations, preservation of digital evidence, prompt complaint mechanisms, survivor confidentiality and effective coordination between relevant institutions and digital platforms.

Multiple social, economic, cultural and institutional factors are interconnected and contribute to the persistence of gender-based violence in Pakistan. Patriarchy produces unequal power relationships between men and women; in certain communities, women's autonomy regarding marriage, education, employment and mobility remains restricted by male family members and traditional social structures. Economic dependency deepens this vulnerability, as limited employment opportunities, unequal access to property and financial insecurity often prevent survivors from leaving abusive households.

Social stigma discourages survivors from reporting violence. Victims of sexual abuse frequently face social exclusion, character assassination and pressure to remain silent to preserve family honour. Weak law enforcement significantly undermines the effectiveness of protective legislation, since inadequate investigations, insufficient forensic capabilities, procedural weaknesses and pressure from influential individuals can obstruct access to justice.

Limited awareness also contributes to discriminatory attitudes and the continuation of violence. Inadequate understanding of consent, equality and individual rights, alongside deeply rooted gender stereotypes, helps normalise abusive behaviour. The state's response is further weakened by institutional fragmentation, because effective survivor support requires coordination between police departments, prosecution services, courts, protection centres and social welfare institutions.

Feminist theories provide valuable analytical frameworks for understanding why this violence persists. Radical feminism considers violence against women a manifestation of male domination and patriarchal power structures, so honour killings, domestic violence and restrictions on women's autonomy are viewed as consequences of unequal gender relations. Liberal feminism emphasises equal legal rights, access to education, political opportunities and institutional reforms, arguing that women's empowerment through employment, access to justice and participation in decision-making can reduce structural inequalities.

Kimberlé Crenshaw introduced the concept of intersectionality, highlighting how gender intersects with class, ethnicity, disability and geographical location to produce overlapping forms of discrimination. Rural women, economically marginalised women, minority communities and women with disabilities may experience multiple layers of discrimination and violence. Together, these perspectives demonstrate that GBV is not simply an individual criminal act; it is deeply connected to unequal social structures, institutional weaknesses and existing power configurations.

Pakistan's response should also be evaluated against its international human rights commitments. The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) requires states to eliminate discrimination against women and promote gender equality across legal, political, economic and social spheres. The Sustainable Development Goals provide a further framework: SDG 5 promotes gender equality and seeks to eliminate all forms of violence against women and girls, while SDG 16 emphasises access to justice, institutional accountability and peaceful societies. The Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action likewise recognise violence against women as a significant barrier to gender equality and women's empowerment. Pakistan must translate these commitments into meaningful national outcomes through effective legislation, adequate financial resources, institutional reforms and independent monitoring.

A comprehensive and coordinated national strategy is essential to move beyond legislation towards implementation. Law enforcement should be strengthened through specialised investigation units for rape, domestic violence, honour killings and acid attacks, equipped with trained professionals and modern forensic facilities. Judicial accountability requires survivor-sensitive procedures, a reduction in case backlogs and stronger witness protection so that justice is timely and fair. Women's economic empowerment, through wider access to education, vocational training, employment, financial services and property ownership, would reduce the economic dependency that traps many survivors.

Digital protection needs specialised cybercrime response protocols, better collection and preservation of digital evidence, and timely mechanisms for addressing online harassment and image-based abuse. Survivor services, including women's shelters, crisis centres, legal aid, psychological counselling and rehabilitation facilities, must be expanded, particularly in rural and underserved areas. Gender-sensitive education that covers consent, gender equality, constitutional rights and non-violent conflict resolution can challenge discriminatory attitudes from an early age.

Institutional coordination between the Ministry of Human Rights, the National Commission on the Status of Women (NCSW), police departments, provincial commissions, prosecution services and civil society organisations should be strengthened, supported by a standardised national GBV database with consistent definitions, disaggregated statistics and transparent reporting. Religious scholars, community leaders, teachers and media organisations should be engaged in challenging honour-based violence, forced marriages and discriminatory social norms. Above all, policies must be survivor-centred, protecting the confidentiality, dignity and autonomy of survivors while providing comprehensive legal, medical, psychological and financial assistance.

The events of 2025 and 2026 demonstrate that gender-based violence remains a deeply rooted challenge in Pakistan, contradicting its constitutional promises, democratic principles and international human rights commitments. Although legislation addressing child marriage, domestic violence and technology-facilitated abuse represents significant progress, recurring incidents of femicide, honour killings, rape and domestic violence demonstrate the need for a more comprehensive approach.

The fundamental challenge lies in translating legal obligations into effective protection and accessible justice. This requires challenging patriarchal norms, ensuring institutional accountability, promoting women's economic empowerment and providing comprehensive support to survivors. Ultimately, women's safety is not merely a matter of enacting legislation; it requires transforming social attitudes, institutional practices and unequal power relations. Gender equality in Pakistan cannot be achieved unless every woman and girl can exercise her fundamental rights without fear, discrimination or violence.

For CSS and PMS aspirants

This topic is relevant to Gender Studies, Current Affairs and Pakistan Affairs, and to Essay questions on women's empowerment, human rights, the rule of law and the gap between legislation and implementation. It supports answers on honour killings, domestic violence, child marriage, technology-facilitated GBV, feminist theories (radical, liberal and intersectional), and Pakistan's obligations under CEDAW, SDG 5, SDG 16 and the Beijing Platform for Action. Useful points: Sahil recorded 6,543 incidents from January to November 2025, about 25 per cent more than the 5,253 in the same period of 2024; the ICT Child Marriage Restraint Act 2025 set 18 as the minimum marriage age; the Domestic Violence (Prevention and Protection) Act 2026 covers physical, psychological, emotional, sexual and financial abuse; and the National Strategy to Counter Technology-Facilitated GBV was launched with UNDP in March 2026.