NWJDR condemns domestic violence incident against journalist Naheed Jahangir and her sisters

23 January 2025, Pakistan: The Network of Women Journalists for Digital Rights (NWJDR) condemns the violent attack on journalist Naheed Jehangir and her sisters at the hands of their male relatives earlier in Peshawar, on 18 January 2025.

In what appears to be an incident of domestic violence, Ms Jehangir and her sisters were returning home after attending a wedding when their vehicle was allegedly stopped by their uncle and other male relatives who attacked them violently. Ms Jehangir and her sisters managed to escape and report the incident to the police, but so far only one out of the five nominated accused have been arrested. Moreover, the police have reportedly been lax in their efforts to provide adequate support to the survivors.

This situation exemplifies the pervasiveness of violence against women, specifically domestic violence, in Pakistan. According to a policy brief from the National Commission for Human Rights, 90% of women experience domestic violence in their lifetime. While legal infrastructure is in place to combat domestic violence, such as the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Domestic Violence against Women (Prevention and Protection) Act, the implementation of such laws remains deeply flawed. Women continue to face obstacles and dismissive attitudes at every turn, especially from law enforcement authorities.

The NWJDR expresses solidarity and support with Naheed Jehangir and her sisters in their struggle to attain justice, and urges the local police to arrest the remaining accused and ensure that the perpetrators are held accountable. The NWJDR also notes that we must collectively work to ensure continuous support for survivors. Domestic violence has no place in a progressive society.