President Zardari approves domestic violence bill, six other laws

President Asif Ali Zardari on Monday approved the highly controversial Domestic Violence (Prevention and Protection) Bill, 2026, along with six other bills passed by Parliament.

According to a press release issued by the Presidential Secretariat, the approved legislation includes the National Tariff Commission (Amendment) Bill, 2026; Export Development Fund (Amendment) Bill, 2026; Railway Transfer (Amendment) Bill, 2026; Domestic Violence (Prevention and Protection) Bill, 2026; Daan Education Authority Bill, 2026; Income Tax (Amendment) Bill, 2026; and the National Human Rights Commission (Amendment) Bill, 2026.

Last week, a joint session of Parliament passed the bills despite the President’s objections, opposition protests and slogans in the House. The session was chaired by the President of the National Assembly, Ayaz Sadiq.

During the session, President Zardari’s objections were formally raised regarding the Daanese Education Authority Bill and the Domestic Violence Bill, with opposition lawmakers insisting that the President’s advice should not be ignored.

Regarding the Daanish Schools Bill, the President objected that the federal government should consult the provinces before creating the authority.

On the domestic violence bill, he called the legislation “vague” and raised concerns about the proposed penalties, advising that the bill should be revisited instead of approved in its current form.

Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Fazl Senator Kamran Murtaza had read out the President’s notice in the House, saying it was not being considered.

“The president has asked for consultation of the provinces on the bills, which is being ignored,” he said, adding that “the federation has encroached on the boundaries of the provinces.”