Legal protections provided under Pakistani law against anti-women practices: Implementation gaps between theory and practice

The new millennium is considered as the millennium of upholding the Human Rights throughout the world. Women are considered as the most vulnerable part of the society due to a violation of their basic and fundamental rights. Women rights have gained so much importance and many organizations are working to provide them equal status in the society and to stop violence against them. Moreover, in every society gender equality is considered a powerful tool for empowering women, but in some states, this powerful tool is challenged by cultural and traditional norms; Pakistan is among those states. These norms sometimes become a hurdle to provide women’s basic rights. Female marriage for settling a dispute is traditionally acceptable in Pakistani society. Pakistani legislation has played a vital role in granting and protecting women rights in contemporary society but women rights are still being violated by anti-women practices. This study is initiated to highlight the existing anti-women practices in the contemporary Pakistani society which violate fundamental rights of women. Further, it will examine the contemporary issues of Pakistani women by analyzing the surrounding debates, the legal reforms, and the related media and social behaviour on these anti-women practices. It will also critically evaluate the existing legislation by discussing some individual cases decided in the last decade. Further, it will highlight the new legislation to prevent anti-women practices.