Domestic Violence Bill Passed: 3 Years Imprisonment and Fine for Abusing, Harassing Wife, Children or Family Members

Islamabad: To prevent the increasing incidents of domestic violence and provide protection to the weaker sections of the family, the National Assembly has passed an important and comprehensive bill, under which any kind of mistreatment against wife, children, elderly, disabled, adopted and transgender persons has been declared a regular crime.
According to the approved law, if any member of the family abuses, threatens or subjects his wife, children or other family members to emotional and psychological pressure, he will have to face legal action. Those involved in such crimes can be imprisoned for a maximum of three years and fined up to Rs 100,000.
The bill also makes it clear that in case of non-payment of the fine, additional punishment can be given, which can be up to three more years.

The law is not limited to the wife and children, but also includes elderly members of the family, disabled people, adopted children and transgender people, provided that they live under the same roof.
Stalking, harassing or hurting the self-respect of any member of the family will also be a crime.

According to the text of the bill, threatening to cause physical harm to any person, causing mental torture, or creating an atmosphere of fear will also be a punishable crime. Similarly, interference in the private life of family members or violation of their privacy will also be prohibited by law.
Failure to support the wife or children or not meeting their basic needs can also lead to legal action.

The law has mandated the courts to start hearing the petition within seven days of its receipt, while the decision will be announced within ninety days.
The victim has been given the right to live in the common residence. If this is not possible, the responsible party must be provided with alternative accommodation or a shelter home.

The bill also includes an order that the perpetrator of violence can be ordered to stay away from the victim, while in some cases, instructions can also be given to wear a GPS tracker so that monitoring can be possible.

Legal experts say that this law is an important step against domestic violence and will provide protection to women, children and other vulnerable groups. However, public awareness and strict implementation will be necessary for its effective implementation.