Four years on, K-P yet to enforce Domestic Violence Act 2021

Law aims to provide legal framework for protecting women from domestic abuse, ensuring swift redressal of complaints

Four years after the passage of the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Domestic Violence (Prevention and Protection) Act, 2021, the provincial government has yet to establish the mandated district-level committees meant to curb domestic violence against women.

The law, passed by the K-P Assembly in 2021, aimed to provide a legal framework for protecting women from domestic abuse and ensuring swift redressal of complaints. The amendment bill was introduced by Pakistan Peoples Party lawmaker Nighat Orakzai, who also played a key role in drafting it.

At her insistence, the law stipulated that each district committee be headed by a female member of the provincial assembly. In districts where no woman MPA is elected, the Deputy Commissioner was designated to serve as committee chairperson.

However, despite the legal requirement, the formation of these committees has been repeatedly delayed. Sources revealed that the Social Welfare Department raised procedural objections, halting the process.

Former minister for social welfare Syed Qasim Ali Shah confirmed that the decision to form the committees had been finalised and an official notification was under preparation when the provincial cabinet was dissolved. “The process will resume once the new cabinet is in place,” he said.

Also Read: K-P Women’s Commission urges inclusion of women in upcoming Jirga

Chairperson of the K-P Commission on the Status of Women (KPCSW), Dr Sumaira Shams, also acknowledged delays, stating that the commission has formally approached the government to resolve the objections. “There were concerns over the nomination of assembly members, as some women legislators have been assigned committees outside their home districts,” she noted.

Meanwhile, the provincial assembly has issued a notification naming women MPAs for representation in district women protection committees. The list includes Sitara Afrin for Dera Ismail Khan, Aiman Jaleel for Mohmand, Madina Gul Afridi for Khyber, Rabia Shaheen for Kurram, Nilofer Begum for Bannu, Naheeda Noor for Bajaur, Arifa Bibi for Lower Chitral, and several others across the province.

Some legislators, however, have voiced concerns about being excluded from committees in their own constituencies. MPA Rehana Ismail told The Express Tribune that she had contacted the Assembly Secretariat regarding objections from members who were assigned to other districts.

It may be recalled that this year in January, four years after the passage of legislation, K-P government finally established committees to end violence against women in the province. Due to the lack of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf's female Members of the Provincial Assembly, the committees will be headed by woman members from the opposition, with one committee to be headed by the Deputy Speaker.

The K-P Assembly had passed a law in 2021 to prevent domestic violence against women. At the time, Orakzai had proposed an amendment to the law to ensure that committees formed under it would be headed by woman members of the assembly. The House had approved the amendment.

In 2023, Orakzai had raised the issue of the law’s non-implementation. The issue had also been raised in the Standing Committee on Social Welfare. After Orakzai had raised her voice on the matter, the government had made rules of business which had been approved by the then-provincial cabinet.