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Sustainable Development Policy Institute |
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KNOW YOUR RIGHTS | |
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| Home | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| The Constitution of Pakistan and Fundamental Rights | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| What to do if your Rights have been Violated? | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rights in a Muslim Marriage | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Dissolution of Muslim Marriage | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Christian Hindi and Parsi Marriages | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Custody of Children | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Crimes against Women | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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Crimes against women such as harrassment and attacks on modesty are covered by the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC). They can be reported to a thana and a case can be filed against the person responsible. Crimes against women cover a vast range of issues and include harrassment on the streets, domestic violence, outraging a woman’s modesty, kidnap, rape and customary so-called ‘honour killings’. Apart from rape by the husband, all the above forms of violence against women are recognised by the law as a crime and carry penalties ranging from imprisonment of up to one year to the death penalty. However, there are certain customary practices, such as swara (when a woman is given to an opposing family as compensation in the settlement of a feud) which necessarily involve mental and physical violence against women which are not clearly regarded by the law as a crime. Any act which is recognised as a crime can be reported to the thana and a case registered against those responsible. If a woman is beaten by male relatives, anyone can file a report. If police refuse to register a case, a writ petition can be filed in the High Court
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