Karachi woman wins alimony case after 18-year legal battle

KARACHI: After a legal battle spanning 18 years, a woman in Karachi has finally succeeded in obtaining alimony from her former husband, ARY News reported.

According to reports, both parties reached a settlement before the court, following years of litigation in multiple courts. Judicial Magistrate South, Karachi ordered the ex-husband to pay Rs2.5 million to his former wife.

According to the court’s ruling, the amount will be paid in five installments by next year.

The woman had initially approached the court for maintenance in 2007. After her appeals were dismissed by the session court and the Sindh High Court, she moved to the Supreme Court, which directed the trial court to conclude the matter promptly.

Following the apex court’s directions, the Sindh High Court sent the case back to the trial court in Karachi for a fresh hearing.

The trial court facilitated mediation between the parties, resulting in a mutual settlement.

After the payment of Rs 2.5 million, both parties agreed not to raise any further claims against each other, the Karachi court noted.

Also Read: Federal Shariat Court rules against depriving women of inheritance in Pakistan

Earlier, the Federal Shariat Court of Pakistan ruled that the traditional practices of ‘Chadar’ and ‘Parchi’ are both un-Islamic and illegal.

A full bench, led by Chief Justice Iqbal Hameed ur Rehman and comprising Justice Khadim M. Shaikh, Justice Dr. Muhammad Mehmood Anwar, and Justice Ameer Muhammad, issued the verdict.

The verdict stated that ‘Chadar and Parchi’ customs deprive women of their rightful inheritance, which is against Islamic teachings.

The court remarked that customs such as ‘Chadar and Parchi’ contradict the rights granted to women in the Quran and Sunnah.

It further ruled that coercing women into relinquishing their inheritance due to societal pressure is a violation of both Islamic principles and the law.

Pakistan Federal Shariat Court has directed authorities to take legal action under Section 498 against those who enforce such practices.

Additionally, the ruling underscores the need for awareness and effective enforcement of laws safeguarding women’s inheritance rights.

Earlier, the Federal Shariat Court in Islamabad ruled that sections 2(f), 3 and 7 of the Transgender Act 2018 are against Islamic teachings.

According to the details, the acting Chief Justice Syed Muhammad Anwar and Justice Khadim Hussain of the Federal Shariat Court Islamabad delivered the verdict that sections 2(f), 3 and 7 of the Transgender Act 2018 are against Islamic teachings, while Section 2(n) of the Transgender Act is not contrary to Sharia.