Pertanika J. Soc. Sci. & Hum. 25 (3): 1401 - 1418 (2017) ISSN: 0128-7702 © Universiti Putra Malaysia Press SOCIAL SCIENCES & HUMANITIES Journal homepage: http://www.pertanika.upm.edu.my/ E-mail addresses: sadiachuadry77@gmail.com (Ashraf, S.), abrarchudhaary@hotmail.com (Abrar-ul-haq, M.), saba.ashraf@gmail.com (Ashraf, S.) * Corresponding author Article history: Received: 22 September 2016 Accepted: 02 February 2017 ARTICLE INFO Domestic Violence against Women: Empirical Evidence from Pakistan Ashraf, S. 1 , Abrar-ul-haq, M. 2 * and Ashraf, S. 3 1 Department of Political Science, The Islamia University of Bahawalpur, Punjab, Pakistan 2 School of Economics, Finance and Banking, Universiti Utara Malaysia, 06010 UUM, Sintok, Kedah, Malaysia 3 Department of Commerce, Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan, Pakistan ABSTRACT It is a common belief that women in Pakistan have limited rights or privileges in a male dominated society. Women fare batter in urban areas and middle and upper sections of society. The condition of women rights in rural areas is very alarming. In fact, women face different kinds of violence such as sexual violence perpetrated by their family members, domestic abuse including spousal murder, beating, threat, honour killings, torture, acid attacks and child custody problems. Islam and most international organisations condemn violation of women rights. The feminist movements have started worldwide to protect women rights and gender-based violence. The current research focused on all those violations which women have to face in their domestic live. The case study of Bahawalpur indicates conservative environment and its impact on women rights violations. Descriptive and analytical method of study was used in this study. Data were collected through a structured questionnaire from the different areas of the district Bahawalpur. Legal and punitive measures cannot succeed unless social customs, norms and societal mentality are changed. Meanwhile, better education facilities, opportunities of employments and proper social and political participation can overcome this issue. Moreover, proper implementation of law and justice after violence is necessary to eliminate this problem in the Pakistani society. Keywords: Women Rights, Domestic Violence, Education Facilities, Pakistan INTRODUCTION Violence against women is generally practiced in every society and recognised as