This powerful episode explores why Pakistan urgently needs more women in its courts, legislature, and policy-making spaces—especially to address gender-based violence.
To begin with, a panel of leading legal experts breaks down the key challenges. They explain how, despite existing laws, serious gaps remain. As a result, many survivors do not receive justice, and abusers often go unpunished.
Moreover, the panel highlights shocking statistics from 2022. These include cases of honor killings, rape, gang rape, acid attacks, and domestic abuse. In each case, they point out how the current legal system fails to respond effectively. Consequently, public trust in justice continues to erode.
Meet the Panelists:
- Asad Jamal – A civil rights lawyer and human rights advocate who works on criminal and constitutional law.
- Sahar Bandial – An advocate and expert in legislative drafting, focused on public interest litigation and women’s rights.
- Sameer Khosa – A partner at Axis Law Chambers, known for using impact litigation to challenge unfair and discriminatory practices.
- Hiba Akbar – An Assistant Professor at LUMS and a researcher on gender, labour, and law. She holds an LLM from Columbia University.
In addition, each speaker draws on years of experience in the legal field. Together, they emphasize that including women in decision-making leads to stronger laws and better outcomes. For example, policies shaped by women often reflect lived realities that male lawmakers might overlook.
Furthermore, the panel stresses that gender diversity is not only a matter of fairness—it is essential for creating a more just and inclusive legal system. Without it, they argue, reform efforts will always fall short.
In conclusion, this episode is a call to action. It urges lawmakers, legal professionals, and the public to push for meaningful gender inclusion in Pakistan’s institutions. Only then, they suggest, can justice truly be served.
