Member of the National Assembly Sharmila Faruqi has praised the drama serial Pamaal for courageously shining a light on the mental suffering and emotional abuse that many women continue to endure in silence within their marriages.
Pamaal tells the story of Malika, played by Saba Qamar, a woman who defies societal expectations and chooses love over tradition, leaving behind the comfort and safety of her father’s home.
Yet, what awaits her is not the fairytale ending she had imagined. Her husband Raza (portrayed by Usman Mukhtar) appears to be the ideal partner caring, stable, and devoted but beneath this veneer of affection lies a subtle and suffocating control that slowly strips Malika of her freedom and individuality.
In her remarks, Faruqi highlighted that Pamaal exposes a form of violence that often goes unseen the psychological and emotional manipulation that traps women in cycles of fear and submission.
“While physical abuse is recognised as violence, what remains dangerously ignored is psychological manipulation the humiliation, intimidation, and gaslighting that gradually destroy a woman’s sense of self,” she said.
“This coercive control is among the most pervasive yet least acknowledged forms of domestic abuse.”
Written by Zanjabeel Asim Shah and directed by Khizer Idrees, Pamaal is a powerful exploration of those silent wounds that do not leave visible scars but deeply impact the soul.
The drama bravely challenges the illusion of “protective love” exposing how care and affection can sometimes be used as tools of control that rob women of autonomy, dignity, and peace.
Faruqi further emphasized the need to redefine the institution of marriage as one rooted in equality and mutual respect, not control and submission.
“No woman should ever have to give up her voice, identity, or dignity to appease a partner’s ego,” she stated. “Marriage must be a partnership, not a prison.”
The series has struck a deep emotional chord with viewers, especially women, many of whom see their own struggles reflected in Malika’s story.
Pamaal has been hailed as a must-watch for its humane and unflinching portrayal of emotional abuse, sparking much-needed conversations about the invisible pain endured by countless women behind closed doors.
Through its storytelling, Pamaal serves not just as entertainment but as a social awakening a reminder that every woman deserves to live with freedom, dignity, and respect, and that breaking the silence around emotional abuse is the first step toward healing and justice.
