Women lawyers now have a wider role in Pakistan’s legal profession. They work in courts, law firms, legal aid services, rights groups, and public offices. Hina Jilani, Justice Ayesha Malik, Sara Malkani, Nighat Dad, Nida Usman Chaudhary, and Jalila Haider have handled work linked to family cases, criminal law, digital rights, workplace issues, human rights, and legal reform.
Women now work across Pakistan’s courts, law firms, legal aid services, rights organizations, and judicial institutions. Their work covers everything from courtroom cases to changes in law and public policy.
Women Who Set the Standard of Legal Practice
Hina Jilani
Hina Jilani established Pakistan’s first all-women law firm in 1981 and became an Advocate of the Supreme Court in 1992. Her legal work has covered women, minorities, children, prisoners, and people seeking legal aid. She also served as the UN Special Representative on Human Rights Defenders from 2000 to 2008.
Justice Ayesha Malik
Justice Ayesha Malik delivered a major Lahore High Court ruling against virginity testing in sexual assault cases. The judgment declared two-finger and hymen examinations unconstitutional and found them to have no forensic value in determining sexual violence.
Sara Malkani
Sara Malkani is an Advocate of the High Courts with more than 15 years of legal practice. Her work covers criminal cases, family law, labour and employment matters, constitutional cases, and international human rights law. She also took on pro bono cases for clients. She was Assistant Attorney General from 2024 to 2025.
Nighat Dad
Nighat Dad is a lawyer and founder of the Digital Rights Foundation. Her work focuses on online violence against women, privacy, surveillance, platform accountability, and digital rights. Under her leadership, the foundation launched Pakistan’s first Digital Security Helpline for people facing technology-related abuse.
Nida Usman Chaudhary
Nida Usman Chaudhary is an Advocate of the High Courts and founder of Women in Law Initiative Pakistan. Her work focuses on fair representation in the justice sector, women’s rights, child rights, and gender-based violence. She has also worked on legal and policy proposals involving anti-rape laws, workplace harassment, maternity benefits, and child protection.
Jalila Haider
Jalila Haider is a human rights lawyer from Balochistan and the first female lawyer from Quetta’s Hazara community. She has provided free legal services to women facing financial hardship and worked on women’s rights and the protection of vulnerable communities. She also founded We the Humans – Pakistan.
Why is Female Representation Important?
More female lawyers give people greater choice when they need legal help in domestic violence, family disputes, sexual violence, and other sensitive cases. They also bring more women into courts and legal bodies where cases are argued, laws are interpreted, policies are discussed, and decisions about the justice system are made.