June 27, 2025
By Iqra Manzoor
LAHORE
‘S’, a survivor of years and years of severe domestic abuse, has finally found the courage to break her silence. She has suffered throughout her marriage enduring physical, emotional and psychological violence.
In the Voicepk video series “Khamoshi kay Peechay” with survivors of Gender Based Violence (GBV), ‘S’ recounts the horrific abuse she has faced at the hands of her husband, and his brother, as well as the systemic failure that followed her cry for help.
“My clothes were soaked in blood”
“That night, on June 22 this year, all I could feel was agonizing pain in my body,” describes ‘S’. “My husband beat me so violently that my clothes were soaked in blood.”
The violence was so intense, that their neighbors intervened after hearing her screams. In the morning she told her mother, who immediately arrived at the scene accompanied by the police, and ‘S’ left with her—but without her children, who remain in their father’s custody.
“I have three children – two boys and one girl – and they are not with me right now,” says the desperate mother. “When I was being beaten, my children were asleep. They didn’t even know what was happening.”
The violence began after a complaint
According to ‘S’, the recent incident of violence was triggered after she informed her husband about his brother’s inappropriate behavior.
“My brother-in-law had been harassing me, asking me to come to his room. When I told this to my husband, he didn’t believe me. Not only that he did not provide me with protection or support, he also accused me of creating rifts in the family and started beating me again.”
“We were disgraced instead of helped”
After the attack, ‘S’, accompanied by her mother and sister, went to the Mustafa Town Police Station to lodge a complaint. But instead of receiving support, she was met with indifference and disrespect.
“We went to the police for help, but instead of helping, we were disgraced. The FIR wasn’t registered for three days. We kept waiting for hours in the scorching heat, but the SHO never met us.”
Even after the FIR was finally registered, she said the police showed no seriousness in handling the case.
“They don’t take us seriously. They didn’t even register the FIR properly. They don’t consider this a serious issue.”
Abuse silenced by family pressure
‘S’ shares that this wasn’t the first time she had been assaulted by her husband.
“Three years ago, he slapped me so hard that my jaw was injured. I reported it then, but both families got involved and resolved the matter privately. Now it’s happened again, and my mother has taken a stand. They don’t want me to go back.”
Torn between her children and her safety
In a trembling voice, ‘S’ describes the emotional toll of being separated from her children.
“When I think about my children, I feel like I could go back for their sake. But if I think about myself, I just can’t. I can’t bear it anymore. I’m just done with it all.”
She alleges her husband continues to control and isolate both her and their children, even using character assassination to undermine her in front of them.
“He doesn’t let me go out, not even for groceries. He’s so controlling. He tells the children I’m not a good woman. My elder son is mature, he understands. He once asked me, ‘Mama, why is our father like this? Why doesn’t he want us to be with you?” she recalls broken voiced. “Why can’t I be with my children? Why am I not allowed to be there for them? Why are they told not to ask me for anything—and by their own father?”
At the time of her interview, ‘S’ is wearing a mask to conceal an injury on her upper lip.
Legal action and police negligence
Sadaf Khatoon, Advocate of the High Court and associate lawyer at Asma Jahangir Legal Aid Cell (AGHS), is representing ‘S’. She confirms to Voicepk that legal steps have been taken.
“She came to consult us and had already filed an application against her husband and in-laws. When police officials called both parties for a possible settlement, we advised her to present all details and ask for the recovery of her children.”
Despite this, Khatoon says the police were uncooperative.
“The other party didn’t even show up. The FIR was finally lodged after much delay—around 5 PM—and the copy was given to the complainant at 10 PM. Even then, they were pressuring her to settle, saying ‘this is a family matter.’”
“When she came to us, she had bruises and a swollen lip. She could barely speak due to the pain.”
A crisis beyond the individual: GBV in Pakistan
The personal ordeal of ‘S’ reflects a broader national crisis. According to the Sustainable Social Development Organization’s (SSDO) 2024 report, Mapping Gender-Based Violence in Pakistan, a total of 32,617 GBV cases were reported across the country this year.
These included:
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5,339 cases of rape
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24,439 cases of kidnapping/abduction
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2,238 cases of domestic violence
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547 cases of honor killings
Punjab accounted for the highest number, with 26,753 GBV cases, but conviction rates remain alarmingly low. Out of 4,641 rape cases, the conviction rate stood at just 0.4%. For 1,167 domestic violence cases, there were only three convictions.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) recorded 3,397 GBV cases, with 446 incidents of domestic violence—yet not a single conviction was reported.
“I just want my children”
After enduring years of silence, ‘S’ has now chosen to speak up—not just for herself, but for the safety of her children.
“I remained silent for years—for my family, and then for my children. But I can’t anymore. If I go back, I feel like there’s going to be a murder case. I just want my children.”
Her story stands as both a harrowing testimony of abuse and a damning indictment of a system that continues to fail women in crisis.