Social Practices Fostering Crime AgainstWomen and the Law in Pakistan

This paper focuses on discriminatory social practices fostering crimeagainst women and the corresponding laws in Pakistan. Based onanalysis of both primary and secondary data, it gives a picture ofprevailing crimes against women in Pakistani society and explores theevil social practices that foster these crimes. Pakistani laws are alsofound lacking to curb different forms of violence against women inpast. The overall patriarchal social arrangement with its maledomination, cultural norms, women’s segregation in private sphere ofhome, unfavorable attitude of law enforcing agencies, customary tonot report crime against women to police, lack of women’s educationand political participation are considered as reasons for persistenceof anti women social practices and discriminatory laws. Recentincreased in women’s participation in political forums and the lawamendments done to protect women are considered as harbinger ofchange. The paper also provides recommendations to curb crimeagainst women in Pakistan.