CAUSES OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AGAINST

WOMEN IN PAKISTAN

OUTLINE
Chapter 1
Introduction

Chapter 2
Literature review

Chapter 3
Research Methodlogy

Chapter 4
Honour killing

Chapter 5
Sexual harrasement

Chapter 6
Married life of a women

Chapter 7
Physical torture on a women

Chapter 8
Phychological torture on women

Chapter 9
Laws that protect women

Chapter 10
Conclusion
INTRODUCTION:

The domestic violence is a very common form of violence silently suffered by a women
in Pakistan. women are the soft element of the earth they play different roles such as
daughter, sister and wife and it is really disturbing that they are facing a lot of
challenges in their daily life i.e Honour killing, sexual harrasement, forced marriages, gang
rape, burning, acid burning, phychological and physical coercive acts and other
discriminatory practices. In Pakistan domestic violence is considered as a private matter
because it usually occurs in the family and for that purpose there is no any particular
focus on that issue. Women have to face discrimination and violence on daily basis in
the name of cultural and religious norms which are accepted by our Pakistani society.

According to the estimate 70 to 90% Pakistani women are subjected to domestic

violence. In Punjab (282 )burn cases were reported in only one province in 1998 out of
which 65% women were died and over 7,010 cases were reported in 2014 .In the city
of Larkana Sindh there were 86 “karo kaari” killings in 1997 out of which fifty three
were the women victims. In the tribal areas of Balochistan and Khyber pakhtunkhuwah
there is the custom which is known as “walwar” it is an agreed mode of marriage in
which girls are sold as a bride on a price. The Aurat foundation estimated a total of
7,852 cases of violence against women which were reported across Pakistan in 2013. As
per human rights commission of Pakistan, 597 women and girls were gang raped, 828
raped and 36 stripped in public in Pakistan in the year 2014. That is the reason Pakistan
is considered to be the 3rd most dangerous country for the women.

Unfortunately Pakistani society still run on the tribal and feudal system and majority of
the population is under the rural and feudal control.In feudal system there is no
education no freedom and women are treated as slaves and prisoners in the
households.There is the particular concept which is universally being used in some
societies; ZAN, ZAR, ZAMEEN (women, money,land). This is the sound of wisdom in these
cultures where the women is not considered as a human being but is considered as
commodities.
Being a women is not easy in the patriarchal societies where, "sons are perceived to
have economic, social, or religious utility; daughters are often felt to be an economic
liability" Studies have revealed that women who have more daughters are more likely to
suffer from violence than the women who have more sons. In a similar manner, women
who do not have children are subjected to not only violence by their husbands and in-
laws, but are harassed by the society as well. Marriage at an early age is another factor
of violence against women. Early marriages are a very common practice in Pakistan as

the girls are considered as an economic liability on the families, which needs to be
disposed off as soon as possible. Furthermore, the practice of dowry also plays an
important role of violence against women in the Pakistan. According to literature, women
whose dowries are perceived inadequate, by their husband and in-laws, suffer
considerably more harassment in the husband's home than women whose dowries are
more substantial.

In the Holy Quran (Surah Nisa verse 34) Allah says, “Men are the protectors and
maintainers of women, because Allah has given the one more (strength) than the other,
and because they support them from their means” and in another place Allah ordered,
And live with them with the kindness and equity. Prophet Muhammad (PBUH),had also
reminded Muslims in a Hadith that, “The best among you is one who is best towards his
wife”.

The Islamic laws and teachings related to the rights and status of women are not
interpreted accurately therefore the men made social and cultural norms make the
Islamic laws and teachings unclear. In the end it is the women who has to face the
consequences of all those men made laws in which domestic violence is most
prominent, where the women are considered as property to be raped, abused, sold,
traded and destroyed by the male members of their families. Many of these practices
are almost unimaginable and beyond the language to describe.

This entire problem violence against women is the social problem in Pakistan which has
never been appropriately dealt by the government. Pakistan despite being an Islamic
country does not protect women from violence and torture.
OBJECTIVE:

GENERAL PURPOSE: causes of domestic violence against women in Pakistan.

SPECIFIC PURPOSE: To deal with the following issues.

The domestic violence against women may be prevented by taking actions regarding:

 Strict legal protection against violence and to enforce existing laws that protect
the women.
 Proper education under national and international human rights law.
 To provide skills training for women to encourage their ability to earn money and
support their household.
 Restrictions on a public in order to prevent forced marriages.
 Encourage a women for the participation in the legal economic development.
 To conduct wareness programmes for both Men and Women.
 To aware the public about the poor conditions of women in the rural areas.
 To educate the public about the value of women in all the aspects.

RESEARCH METHODLOGY:
For the purpose of research I will go through the qualitative and quantitative method of
research.

Quantitative research: In quantitative research the researcher will conduct interviews of

30 victims of violence and will conduct the interviews of social workers of violence
against women. Researcher will also include interviews of women rights and social right
activist particularly working on the issue of violence against women. The researcher will
also conduct the interviews of 5 religious scholars.

Qualitative research: In qualitative research the research will include excerpts and
summaries of newspapers, articles, different websites, previous research and different
books to analyse and substantiate or support the research and to help find out the real
causes and effects of violence against women in country.

Population: The research will represent the population of entire Pakistan with particular
focus on rural population of Punjab and sindh province.
LITERATURE REVIEW:
Although, the problem has been faced by women all across the globe for centuries and it has
been associated with worst health outcomes, but, it’s been only thirty years since it has been
recognized as a major problem for women. Thus, scarce research literature is present on this
topic ( Kishor, 2004). It is very difficult to understand the complex dynamics of domestic violence
in Pakistan since culture, religion and influence from neighbor countries have all played their role
in establishing its roots in the country (Ali, 2008; Fischbach, 1997). Most of the time, domestic
violence causes the victim to suffer from depression, drug addiction, poor pregnancy outcomes,
and even suicides (Sarkar, 2008; Fischbach, 1997). In Pakistan, this has never been raised as a
significant issue as women here do not consider it as a violation of their basic human right, and
therefore, never take any stand against it. The other most important reason for it to remain
under the cover for so long is consideration of domestic violence as one’s private affair, and
therefore, even people who witness such incidents do not interrupt, stop or report any such
event ( Hassan, 1995). The objective of the present study is to discuss the prevalence of
domestic violence in our society by reviewing the articles present on the above mentioned topic,
its psychological outcomes, and the legalized way to seek help as per our country’s legislature to
combat against this issue. Women in Pakistan face several different types of issues on daily basis
of which domestic violence surely tops the list. According to many studies, around 70% of the
women are victimized from this social evil (ALi, 2008). According to a cross sectional study
conducted in Karachi, it was revealed that around 44% of women face domestic violence on
daily basis, verbal abuse being the dominant mode of violence ( Fikree, 2006). It has also being
observed that majority of the cases of domestic violence present in psychiatric and obstetrics
ward. In an urban middle class setting of Hyderabad, Sindh, a cohort study was carried out
which has reported that more than 50% of women experience verbal and sexual exploitation
during pregnancy (Alhabib, 2010; Bibi, 2014). In another cross sectional study conducted in
Islamabad and Rawalpindi, 13.6% women reported of being victimized in their current term of
pregnancy, most common being the verbal violence, or threats of violence through arms. Many
of these women have also reported of being kicked, injured and severely beaten up by their
partners requiring a hospital admission (Shaikh, 2008). A study conducted in Chitral, Swat reported
that more than one third of women who presented to gynecological ward were suffering from antenatal
depression. Further exploration revealed that verbal and physical abuse were one of the major
contributors towards that depression and other psychological symptoms (Mir, 2012). Studies have
shown that this dilemma is not limited to the poor and illiterate only. The problem is equally
present in the educated and economically established people. A study conducted on upper
middle and middle class women of our society has also shown a high prevalence of cases of
domestic violence (Niaz, 2005). It was also found in Ganga Ram Hospital of Punjab that the
domestic violence was one of the most frequently reported medico legal problem ( Shoaib,
2011). Violence whether physical, sexual or verbal makes survival difficult for any human being,
and causes deleterious effects on one’s mental health. The victims of domestic violence are often
found to be patients of depression and many other psychiatric disorders. A great chunk of
women presenting at psychiatric ward of Aga Khan University Hospital have been reported to be
suffering from depression as a sequel of domestic violence( Haqqi, 2010) .Children are
undoubtedly the worst effected member of families which are going through such traumatic
situation. A feeling of insecurity and fear resides in their heart. The nurturing and personality
development of children is highly dependent on the environment provided at the house which is
surely worst in case if family is facing the issue of domestic violence ( Campbell, 1997). A
research also shows that domestic violence in a family predisposes a child to mal treatment
neglect and psychological derangements ( McGuigan, 2001). A lot, of men who battered and
abuse their wives have reported that they have seen and experienced a similar attitude towards
their mother since their childhood. Thus, it is a threat to become a vicious cycle in generations
to follow ( Fikree, 2005).

LAWS IN PAKISTAN
The protection for women of Pakistan through its law is still quiet deficient. Domestic violence
itself is not considered a crime by Pakistani society. It has been very unfortunate to notice that
there is no provision or law, for the emotional stress and psychological trauma that the victim of
domestic violence has to go through (Haqqi,, 2003).However, other laws for the protection of
women have been passed and amended such as the acid control and acid crime prevention Act,
2011, Prevention of Anti-women practices Act, 2011, Criminal law (Ammendment) (Offence of
rape) Act 2016 and Criminal law (offences in the name of pretext of honour ) Act, 2016.

Although, steps have been taken but there has not been much improvement in the ground
reality. We are still waiting to see the practical application of these laws in our country because
so many factors are still associated with the domestic violence such as:

 Lack of awareness about women rights

 Lack of education
 Male dominant society
 Falsified beliefs
 Men made laws
 Customs of marriages (Bride price/dowry)
 Feudal system
 Lack of implementation of laws that protect women
 Un necessary delay of proceedings
BIBLIOGRAPHY
 In The Quran chapter 4 ( An-Nisa ) verse 34.
 The case of Shahida Parveen and Mohammad Sarwar (NLR 1988(SD) FSC 188) A country
of dead women by Rafia Zakaria Updated May 30, 2014 DAWN REPORT
https://www.dawn.com/news/1109538

 Zafran Bibi case from 2002 (PLD 2002 FSC 1). A country of dead women by Rafia
Zakaria Updated May 30, 2014 DAWN REPORT https://www.dawn.com/news/1109538

 Ghulam Yaseen and two others v. The state. PLD 1994 Lah.392.Judgement of
superior courts of Pakistan dealing with honour
killing.http://www.academia.edu/29966670/How_does_the_Pakistani_legal_system_ha
ndle_honour_killings_A_hard_balance_between_Islamic_and_Common_Law.

 Qandeel Baloch case 2016. Qandeel murder case: brother, cousin indicted by court.
Taser Subhani December 05, 2016 https://www.dawn.com/news/1300641.

 IN THE SUPREME COURT OF PAKISTAN Criminal Appeals No.163 to 171 and S.M. Case
No.5/2005M Mst. Mukhtar Mai (in S.M.Case No.5/2005) Versus Abdul Khaliq and others
http://www.supremecourt.gov.pk/web/user_files/File/Crl.P.163_to_171_S.M.C.5_2005.pdf

 Judgement of supreme court in zainab Noor case. Husband still free despite SC
order: Zainab Noor torture case January 27, 2003 https://www.dawn.com/news/79552

 Samia imran case 1999. Violence Against Women: The High Price of Women's Honor in
Pakistan by Ameera Javeria Volume 10, Issue 1, Fall 2002
https://quod.lib.umich.edu/j/jii/4750978.0010.103?view=text;rgn=main
 Muhammad Rafique v. The state PLD 1993 Lahore 848.Judgement of superior
courts of Pakistan dealing with honour
killing.http://www.academia.edu/29966670/How_does_the_Pakistani_legal_system_ha
ndle_honour_killings_A_hard_balance_between_Islamic_and_Common_Law