On Monday, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa police announced that they had rescued a foreign citizen and her children from a residence in Bara, following allegations of domestic abuse and physical torture by the husband’s former spouse. The incident, which prompted a written complaint to the Khyber district police officer on June 18, detailed that the victim and her children had endured harsh and abusive treatment for 12 years.
The victim claimed that her husband had denied her and her children basic freedom and failed in his duties as a responsible partner and parent. She said, “He beats us and puts pressure on our lives on a daily basis. We have scars on our faces and other parts of our bodies due to his violent outbursts.”
After filing a complaint, the police registered a First Information Report that same day under sections 337 (shajjah), 342 (punishment for wrongful confinement), and 506 (punishment for criminal intimidation), as well as the KP Domestic Violence against Women (Prevention and Protection) Act of 2021.
Following the district officer’s instructions, the Bara station house officer conducted a raid at the suspect’s home. The foreign national and her children were rescued and moved to a women’s police station for protection, while her husband was taken into custody.
In a police‑recorded video, the victim, speaking in a mix of English and Pashto, said that she had married the local husband in 2014 and had lived in Bara since then. She expressed gratitude toward the police for the rescue and stated her wish to be repatriated to her home country.
The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan’s 2024 annual report on human rights in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa noted a “significant” rise in violence against women and children. A 2025 study found that, on average, 7.6 women in the province approach the police each day to report such violence.
