Pakistani society is patriarchal and most women in Pakistan experience various and multiple types of violence throughout their lives. Leaving an abusive relationship is a difficult decision for women and sometimes multiple attempts are made to leave the household. This study uses a qualitative approach and semi-structured interviews to study the experiences of 57 women who had returned to shelter homes in eight districts of the Punjab province, Pakistan after attempting re-integration into their communities. Focus group discussions (FGDs) with 34 service providers of shelter homes were conducted in five major districts of Punjab. The findings that emerged from the interviews and FGDs indicated that women faced abuse which was associated with individual, relationship and societal level factors. When women tried to re-integrate back into the communities they faced life threats, psychological abuse and legal consequences due to the stigma and honour issues associated with fleeing abuse to take refuge in shelter homes. The women in the study proposed various recommendations including the need for domestic violence legislation criminamlizing abuse. Recommendations of the study include developing campaigns to increase awareness of violence against women and women’s right as well as the need for education, skill training and income stability for women and counseling and follow up services at shelter homes for women shelter users.