• Counsel argues law violates Articles 4, 8, 10-A, 35 and 227 of Constitution
• Lahore court convicts man of assaulting wife, mother-in-law

ISLAMABAD / LAHORE: The Islamabad High Court on Wednesday issued notices to the Ministry of Law and Justice and the Ministry of Human Rights on a petition challenging the vires of the Domestic Violence (Prevention and Protection) Act, 2026, and sought their response.

Justice Arbab Muhammad Tahir of the IHC heard the petition filed by Advocate Abdul Wahab Farid against the recently enacted law.

During the hearing, counsel for the petitioner, Maham Fatima and Sardar Tariq Hussain, arg­ued that the impugned legislation was contrary to several constitutional provisions, including Articles 4, 8, 10-A, 35 and 227. They contended that the law infringes fundamental rights and is inconsistent with Islamic injunctions.

The counsel submitted that the procedure prescribed under the new law for registration and redressal of complaints violates the right to a fair trial guaranteed under Article 10-A of the Constitution. They further argued that certain provisions confer excessive and arbitrary powers that could be misused and undermine due process.

After a preliminary hearing, Justice Tahir issued notices to the respondents and adjourned further proceedings until a date to be fixed by the office.

Man convicted

Meanwhile, a model criminal court (minor offences) in Lahore issued a judgement Wednesday in a domestic abuse case, convicting a man of assaulting his wife and mother-in-law.

Judicial Magistrate Hamidul Rahman Nasir conducted the trial, which involved testimony from several witnesses, including the victims and police investigators.

The incident took place on April 2, 2021. According to the FIR, the conflict began when the man allegedly pressured his wife to seek employment against her wishes. When she refused, he and several of his family members reportedly began beating her.

Following a telephone call from the wife, her mother and brother arrived at the scene.

The prosecution argued that during the ensuing confrontation, the man assaulted his mother-in-law, tearing her clothes and beating her until she lost consciousness. Neighbours eventually intervened to rescue the victims.

The FIR stated that after only two months of marriage, the husband began subjecting his wife to routine physical abuse. As a result, she stayed at her parents’ house for about eight months and received medical treatment at their expense.

The defence contended that the FIR was fabricated and pointed to the absence of official medico-legal certificates.

However, the prosecution explained that hospital protocols during the Covid-19 pandemic and police negligence contributed to the lack of formal documentation.

The magistrate found the man guilty under Section 354 of the Pakistan Penal Code, which addresses assault or use of criminal force against a woman with intent to outrage her modesty.

In the judgement announced on Tuesday, the magistrate sentenced the husband to three months’ rigorous imprisonment along with a fine of Rs1,500 for assaulting his wife. He was also awarded another three months’ rigorous imprisonment for assaulting his mother-in-law, along with a fine of Rs1,500.

Published in Dawn, February 19th, 2026