The introduction of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Domestic Violence against Women Bill into the KP provincial assembly is encouraging. However as expected, the Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA) has expressed apprehensions about the proposed law, expressing misgivings about whether or not the bill is in line with Islamic edicts – and has asked that the government not pass it in haste. Considering domestic abuse and women’s rights are serious issues in Pakistan, the MMA should at least clarify how the proposed bill violates religious precepts. Women-related statistics are appallingly poor for Pakistan and it is imperative that something be done to fix them. The women’s protection bill in KP – which would protect women in the province from psychological, sexual, physical and economic abuse- could go a long way in this regard. There is plenty of data that shows the passing of such legislation is absolutely necessary. Back in November 2017 Pakistan was ranked the fourth worst country for women out of 153 countries by the Georgetown Institute’s Women, Peace and Security Index. The report had declared that discrimination against women is the highest in this country, and that it also had the lowest levels of financial inclusion for women. The report also highlighted that 27 percent of Pakistani women had been subjected to violence by their intimate partners. Only Syria, Afghanistan and Yemen were found to be worse places for females. Legislation protecting women from violence in KP is all the more important, considering the Human Rights Watch (HRW) found that in 2017, 180 cases of domestic violence were reported in the province. This included the murder of 94 women by close family members. Pakistani activists also estimate that there are 1,000 cases of honour killing in the country every year. Despite these disturbing statistics, both religious parties and the Council of Islamic Ideology continue to act as hurdles in the way of any legislation that could protect women from abuse. Back in 2016, religious parties had rejected the Women’s Protection Bill passed in the Punjab provincial assembly. Ludicrously enough, some right-wing politicians, such as JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rahman had expressed concern that the bill would lead to “the breakup of society.” Meanwhile, the CII’s Maulana Muhammad Khan Sherani had gone so far as to threaten the Punjab Assembly with Article 6 of the Constitution, which deals with treason. In a typical fashion that is being repeated again today, it was not explained exactly how passing the bill would end up having such disastrous consequences. The abhorrent treatment of women in Pakistan continues to be a massive blight on our already tarnished human rights record. Pakistani legislators in every province must soldier forward to pass legislation which would protect victims of violence. Our country can never better itself until the state helps Pakistani women stand on equal footing with its male citizens. * Published in Daily Times, February 13th 2019.