First FIR filed in Lahore under Women's Protection Act

E-Paper | March 18, 2026

LAHORE: A woman filed a First-Information Report (FIR) against her husband in the Green Town police station on Monday. It is reportedly the first FIR filed under Punjab's Protection of Women against Violence Act which was signed into law yesterday.

The FIR was registered at the Green Town police station. ─ DawnNews

FIR 203/16 had been filed under sections 354 and 506 of the Pakistan Penal Code, Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) Police Ashiq of the Green Town police station confirmed.

Know more: Governor signs women’s protection law

The woman, in footage shown on a news channel, alleged her husband, a drug-addict, tortures her and forces her to work.

She claimed she visited the police station six or seven times earlier but was unable to register an FIR then, and said that if police did not help in this matter, she would poison her son and ingest poison herself as well.

The two got married six years ago, he said, adding that both had been divorced once previously. They have one child together, the ASI said. The husband works in a factory and the couple often fight on matters related to household finances, he said.

Punjab Governor Rafiq Rajwana signed the Protection of Women against Violence Bill on Monday to make it a formal law. The bill had been unanimously passed by the Punjab Assembly on February 24.

The law prohibits torture of wives and bans expulsion of the woman from home in case of a clash with her husband and instead the husband could be banished from home for two days. Violators will be awarded jail terms and fine, besides installation of trackers on violent husbands on court orders.

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Pakistan

Imran Gabol is a Lahore-based reporter for Dawn with over a decade of experience in journalism. He covers politics, climate change, human rights, education, and metropolitan affairs. He can be found on X at @gabolizm.

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Sunil

Mar 01, 2016 12:28pm

I hope the this law, women protection bill, may not be misused as a source, to send her husband, father, or any one to jail.

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citizen

Mar 01, 2016 01:00pm

Like Europe, divorce rate will also increase with women bill

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Dr Riffat Jabeen

Mar 01, 2016 01:05pm

No such bills, ordinances or laws can bring positive change in a society without education. First educate people about their rights and obligations then expect that these laws are useful. Education, education and real education... If government is really sincere to do something. Otherwise this already frustrated society will get more frustrated.

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Dr Riffat Jabeen

Mar 01, 2016 01:23pm

Laws exist ...only sincere and honest implementation is required. Misuse of everything is harmful, no matter what. Without proper education you cannot empower any segment of society : men or women. Educated men and women can strengthen their families. Low literacy rate is directly and/or indirectly related to all social evils. Work only on education to make strong civilised society. Make people understand the importance of good high moral values.

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Philosopher (from Japan)

Mar 01, 2016 01:50pm

At least it's a way to keep police personnel busy.

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on looker

Mar 01, 2016 02:11pm

A fairer society for all - irrespective of gender, cast, race, creed or religion is what we need in Pakistan. If divorce rates increases so be it....why should women folks suffer in silence and injustice - just to keep divorce statistics down!

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Umar Farooq

Mar 01, 2016 02:16pm

Well Done........

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Haseeb

Mar 01, 2016 02:30pm

it's better to get divorced then to remain in a 'marriage' where you get abused and tortured.

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shoaib

Mar 01, 2016 02:35pm

@citizen i would rather have lower divorce rates than wives bearing torture for the rest of their lives.

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Viking Star

Mar 01, 2016 03:07pm

ASI Ashiq said no marks of physical torture were present on the woman and there was no medical report to confirm her claim. He said her husband had been arrested and brought to the police station, and the police were helping the couple reconcile. (Above part is really good) The law prohibits torture of wives and bans expulsion of the woman from home in case of a clash with her husband and instead the husband could be banished from home for two days. (No this where the problem starts. If they send husband out for 2 days as a punishment, NO husband would return and sing a romantic song for the wife. This would result in large number of divorces and instead of "so called protection of women", the women would eventually be left unprotected. Is the state in a position to offer shelter and finance for divorced women? Ans: Absolutely NOT.

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Viking Star

Mar 01, 2016 03:09pm

@citizen ......Exactly! If the husband is sent away from home for 2 days, he would rather get rid of the wife with simple divorce. Our politicians are just incompetent

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Naveed

Mar 01, 2016 03:17pm

@Haseeb that is not for u to decide

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tasleem ulhaq

Mar 01, 2016 03:32pm

this law also says about putting gps bracelet on husban,will husban return after such humiliation .

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DR UZAIR

Mar 01, 2016 03:46pm

We are going to have the highest divorce rate when family values finish and you have every family matter in court

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Dr Riffat Jabeen

Mar 01, 2016 03:46pm

@Haseeb 'Out of frying pan into the fire'. I understand the agony of being in a Troubled marital relationship but Don't you know what does society do with a divorcee. Litigation is not the solution to marital conflicts rather one should be educated enough how to resolve the conflicts. I'll again say Education, education and first of all education. Respecting Relationships is more important than anything else. Educate people....men or women.

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Skeptic

Mar 01, 2016 03:49pm

So if a woman is the aggressor and the man is completely innocent, the word of the woman against the man will only result in higher cases of divorces, orphaned or fatherless kids and more disruption in the family structure. Well-intentioned it may be. But it has its pitfalls if it is misused or Police do no adequately investigate allegations of abuse against the husband - which could come from wife, ex-wife, in-laws or even neighbors and relatives.

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Zubaida khan

Mar 01, 2016 04:11pm

Torture is not only physical but also emotional. Emotional abuse leaves deeper scars than physical ones

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Zubaida khan

Mar 01, 2016 04:12pm

@citizen and like Europe the quality of married life will also improve and go up. Marriage is not fard it's sunna. If you are unable to maintain a stable, caring relationship then you should not be married

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Ashfaq11

Mar 01, 2016 04:16pm

Agreed that sometimes divorce is better than living in violence and suffering. Imagine kids growing in that kind of environment. Also this law will empower women as men use the threat of kicking woman out as means to dominate and continue their mistreatment. Also agree that an education campaign on TV will help a lot. Make it emotional and provocative. Change behaviours and start with education.

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Zubaida khan

Mar 01, 2016 04:18pm

@Viking Star why do you feel women need to be treated like helpless wards of the state? No woman should need to work to support her husband's drug habit. Women serve in the armed forcesz in banks, schools, hospitals, television, public sector, private sector and the government. She does not need a husband to "protect" her. In certain cases she needs to be protected from him. That is what the law is about. But you missed the point entirely.

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Zubaida khan

Mar 01, 2016 04:18pm

@Dr Riffat Jabeen and what do we do until then? Let the abuse continue?

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M. Malik

Mar 01, 2016 04:42pm

Women (or even Men) may, or may not be abused in a given situation. But I can see how this law could be abused, if Police lack resources to do thorough investigation of alleged physical, mental or emotional abuse by one or the other! With Mobiles in every hand, it is a threat against a man, most likely. It only takes push of a button for a woman to summon Police and accuse the man of anything - if she doesn't get what she demands - jewelry, new cloths, shoes, new Mobile or car??? Blackmail waiting to happen and the life of the man is miserable, reputation ruined and humiliated of taken away by Police even for one day!

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Arif Nayani

Mar 01, 2016 04:57pm

This women protection bill will eventually become a family destruction bill.. As in general we are emotional nation and women in particular are emotional by nature also.. Soo a mere spat or abuse and then reporting it under emotions will burn the relationship of years.. Voilence on woman is also an important issue but can be tackled by empowering women, pre marriage counseling of couples and making family counselors and courts more active and easily accessible ..But anything sane is impossible to expect from these dumb politician..

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farhan

Mar 01, 2016 05:16pm

Among uneducated population (which seems to be more than 70% of our population), the corruption is an all time high when it comes to married life or even unmarried girls living with families. Many cases that I have seen so far here in Pakistan looks to me a western way of living when it comes to non-islamic interactions and relations in these populations. And such bill could only worsen already worse behavior by these individuals. Islamic education and awareness as to how family relations should exists and how moral values should be kept is what needs to be spread throughout this population.

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Dr Riffat Jabeen

Mar 01, 2016 05:38pm

@Zubaida khan A little patience, tolerance, compromise, and a little change in one's own behaviour... most of the time work wonders. Communication among spouses plays important role. Discuss things with some sincere friend or a family member. Litigation adds fuel to the fire. It does not help rather backfires to a great extent.

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Mahmood

Mar 01, 2016 06:14pm

@Dr Riffat Jabeen Your suggestion will only work if both parties are sincere and are willing to compromise.

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Naveed

Mar 01, 2016 06:28pm

@Mahmood but this law will definately not work. it iwll make things worse not better

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Mahmood

Mar 01, 2016 06:42pm

@farhan I agree. .

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Atif

Mar 01, 2016 06:56pm

@on looker Higher Divorce rates means broken homes and kids having to chose between two parents. Just see the west to understand. Why should the man be forced to leave the house? If its HIS house after all!!

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N_Saq

Mar 01, 2016 07:56pm

A good omen. It is time men in Pak realize that women are human beings and treat them with respect and dignity.

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Pak America

Mar 01, 2016 09:54pm

@Sunil I hope so too.

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lmao

Mar 02, 2016 01:53am

@M. Malik what happens when the abusers are cops? (nt all)

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Hassan

Mar 02, 2016 11:19pm

But no help has been given by Govt. to deal with their finances. The underlying reason of miseries is still there. Both of them will fight again.

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