Key points
- Around 226 women killed for ‘honour’ in Pakistan in 2023: HRCP
- Majority of complaints of cyber harassment lodged by women in Punjab: DRF
- 700 were abducted, 631 raped and 277 gang-raped during the same period
ISLAMABAD: Behind closed doors, in homes that should provide safety, countless women endure the nightmare of domestic violence.
Their bruises may heal, but the trauma never does. Fear of being the subject of criticism and a lack of support cause many people to suffer in silence, detained in a cycle of abuse with no means of getting out.
In 2023 alone, at least 66 women formally reported domestic abuse cases, while experts believe that the real number is much higher. According to the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP), 226 women were victims of ‘honour’ crimes, while 700 were abducted, 631 raped, and 277 gang-raped in 2023.
The Digital Rights Foundation received 2,224 complaints of cyber harassment, the majority of which were lodged by women in Punjab. Pakistan ranked 142 out of 146 countries in the World Economic Forum’s 2023 Global Gender Gap Report, highlighting the country’s depressing reality for women.
“I Was Beaten for Not Cooking Well”
Among those abused is Ayesha, a woman whose love marriage took her from Islamabad to the faraway mountains of Kashmir. What began as a promise of love quickly became a prison.
Her once affectionate husband became abusive, punishing her for failing to satisfy his domestic demands.
“I wasn’t an expert in cooking or cleaning, and for that, I was beaten,” she recalls.
After preparing lunch for her husband’s family of 15, she fell asleep tired. When her brother-in-law arrived home and couldn’t find his food, he began shouting. Her husband became upset and beat her so severely that she afterwards found her hand was broken.
In just four years, Ayesha had become a mother of four, living in constant danger. One morning, while preparing breakfast, her two-month-old child began crying.
She hurried to console him, leaving the tea on the fire. When it burnt, her husband dragged her out and brutally beat her. The entire family heard, but no one intervened. Only her children cried and trembled in horror.
“That’s when I realised: this has to end.” “If not for myself, then for my children,” she says.
A few days later, she tricked her husband into allowing her to visit Islamabad, claiming there was a family emergency. As she was about to leave, he became suspicious and forced her to leave behind one of her sons, a cruel guarantee that she would return.
Ayesha left with a broken heart. She filed a complaint against her husband after arriving in Islamabad. He has been ordered to appear by the court, but he has not done so.
“I cry every night for the son I left. However, I also need to consider my other three children’s future. She says,
“I don’t want them to grow up afraid.”
“Society Blames Women, Not Abusers”
Ayesha’s courage to leave was exceptional. Many people, including Sara, are still bound by social norms rather than a lack of power.
Sara, a 32-year-old mother of two, has endured years of severe physical and emotional abuse from her husband. However, she refuses to report him.
“Where would I go?” My own parents have advised me to stay for the sake of my children. “If I leave, society will blame me, not him,” she admits, her voice heavy with dread.
“Domestic Violence is Not a Private Matter—It’s a Crime”
Human rights campaigner Shad Begum believes that legal protection alone is insufficient.
“Domestic violence is not a personal issue; it is a criminal. We need improved legislation, additional shelters, and psychological help for survivors. “The silence of society only protects the abuser,” she said.
While legal frameworks exist, inadequate enforcement traps many women in a cycle of violence. Experts call for increased awareness campaigns, community support services, and a societal transformation that empowers survivors to seek justice.
