Marriage is a sacred bond that religion cherishes, society accepts and psychologists believe as a source of emotional satisfaction and stability. This bond weakens when trust is broken. When either partner cheats or betrays the other, the loss becomes irreparable. In far too many Pakistani homes today, this sanctuary is cracking under the weight of betrayal. Across the country, tragic cases emerge where either the husband is killed by the wife or the wife is killed by the husband, leaving behind unbearable trauma and suffering for the children.

Incidents of extramarital relationships have become a serious social malaise, fuelling mistrust, violence and tragedy inside homes. According to the Pakistan Demographic and Health Survey (PDHS), 34.2 per cent of married women aged 15-49 in Pakistan reported experiencing some form of domestic violence, including emotional, physical or sexual abuse. In a rural community of Lahore, more than half the women surveyed reported both physical and sexual violence by their husbands. These figures expose........

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