No Punishment for Staring at Wife in Domestic Violence Bill: Sharmila Faruqui
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) MNA Dr Sharmila Faruqui has rejected claims circulating on social media that the recently passed Domestic Violence (Prevention and Protection) Bill, 2025 criminalises staring or “ogling” at one’s wife.
Dr Faruqui clarified that there is no provision in the law that imposes punishment on a husband for staring at his wife, terming such claims as misinformation.
She said the bill, which was passed by a joint sitting of Parliament on Friday, has been widely misrepresented on social media, adding that even some journalists had commented on it without reading the actual text of the legislation.
“The bill does not include any punishment for staring or ogling,” she said, urging critics to review the law before spreading incorrect information.
The Domestic Violence (Prevention and Protection) Bill, 2025, moved by Dr Faruqui, was passed after the House rejected amendments proposed by JUI-F MNA Aliya Kamran and Senator Kamran Murtaza, while approving amendments introduced by Faruqui herself.
Dr Faruqui stressed that the law is not restricted to women alone and applies equally to men and other vulnerable individuals. She said the legislation also provides protection to elderly parents facing abuse from their children and covers situations where a woman behaves abusively towards a man within the household.
“This is not a women-only law. It is meant to protect everyone,” she said.
Clarifying the issue of stalking, Dr Faruqui explained that stalking has been penalised under the law but does not equate to ogling. She said stalking refers to obsessive, controlling behaviour that causes mental stress, fear, or emotional harm, whether carried out by a husband, brother, or other family member.
“Stalking means following, monitoring movements, and creating an atmosphere of fear and pressure. It has nothing to do with staring,” she said.
She added that the bill is being deliberately distorted and urged the public to rely on accurate information so that the law’s true intent — protection against domestic abuse — is properly understood.
