Four years later, KP has yet to implement the 2021 Domestic Violence Law

Four years after the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Domestic Violence (Prevention and Protection) Act, 2021 was passed, the provincial government is yet to establish the district committees mandated to tackle domestic violence against women.

The law, passed by the KP Assembly in 2021, aimed to provide a legal framework to protect women from domestic violence and ensure prompt handling of complaints. The amendment bill was introduced by Pakistan People’s Party MP 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 women MPAs are elected, the Deputy Commissioner has been appointed to chair the committee.

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

Former Social Welfare Minister Syed Qasim Ali Shah confirmed that the decision to form the committees had been finalized and a formal notification was being prepared when the provincial cabinet was dissolved. “The process will resume once the new government is in place,” he said.

Read also: KP Women’s Commission calls for inclusion of women in upcoming Jirga

KP Commission on the Status of Women (KPCSW) chairperson Dr Sumaira Shams also acknowledged the delays, saying the commission had formally contacted the government to resolve the objections. “There have been concerns regarding the appointment of Assembly members, as some female legislators have been assigned committees outside their home districts,” she noted.

Meanwhile, the provincial assembly has issued a notification nominating women MPAs for representation in the district women’s welfare 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 lawmakers, however, expressed concern about being excluded from their own district committees. MP Rehana Ismail said The Express PK Press Club that she had contacted the Assembly Secretariat regarding objections from members assigned to other districts.

Recall that in January this year, four years after the law was passed, the KP government finally established committees to end violence against women in the province. Due to the lack of women members of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Provincial Assembly, the committees will be headed by women members of the opposition, with one of them headed by the vice-president.

The KP Assembly had passed a law in 2021 to prevent domestic violence against women. At the time, Orakzai proposed an amendment to the law to ensure that committees established under the law would be headed by female members of the Assembly. The House approved the amendment.

In 2023, Orakzai raised the issue of non-enforcement of the law. The issue was also raised at the Standing Committee on Social Protection. After Orakzai raised his voice on the issue, the government established operating rules which were approved by the then provincial cabinet.