"Sara Malkani presents a powerful analysis of the journey and impact of major legislative changes aimed at addressing gender-based violence in Pakistan and distills critical lessons that will be useful for lawyers, policymakers, activists, and scholars everywhere. Her thoughtful critiques of feminist and carceral approaches to addressing gender-based violence in Pakistan and rigorous scrutiny of their strengths and limitations, as well as the real-life consequences for those who seek justice, will make even the most seasoned reformer question their own assumptions about how to use the power of the law to create a world free from gender-based violence." --Melissa Upreti, former Chair Rapporteur of the UN Working Group on Discrimination against Women and Girls "The book's value lies partly in its detailed, content-specific analysis, rather than essentialising gender-based violence . Malkani's meticulously researched book will be of interest to scholars of gender studies, particularly those in South Asia, where systemic flaws, legal traps, a corrupt criminal justice system, and a patriarchal mindset remain central challenges." -- Contemporary South Asia.