The Lahore High Court (LHC) has ruled that a husband is legally bound to fulfill commitments made to his wife in a separate marriage related agreement in addition to paying the dower (Haq Mehr) specified in the Nikahnama. Read More: Husband must pay dower on demand if timing unspecified, rules LHC In a detailed 11-page judgment, […]
women's rights
Iranian Nobel Prize laureate given new prison sentence
An Iranian court has sentenced Nobel Peace Prize laureate and women’s rights activist Narges Mohammadi to a new prison term of seven and a half years, according to a statement released on Sunday by the Narges Foundation, a group supporting her. Read More: Jailed Iranian activist Narges Mohammadi wins Nobel Peace Mohammadi, 53, who has spent decades campaigning […]
Supreme Court regrets societal apathy towards domestic violence victims
ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court has expressed deep concern over society’s apathy towards victims of domestic violence, noting that women are often forced to return to abusive households despite sustained maltreatment. The remarks came during the hearing of a jail petition by Khursheed Ahmad, convicted of murdering his wife, Gulshan Bibi. Read More: SC rejects appeal […]
Saba Qamar urges responsibility after ‘Case No. 9’ finale
Pakistani actor Saba Qamar has called for empathy and responsibility towards women following the conclusion of Geo TV’s drama serial Case No. 9. In a reflective social media message, Qamar highlighted the importance of kindness and respect, choosing a tone of positivity rather than confrontation. Read More: Saba Qamar reveals how ‘Case No. 9‘ role impacted her […]
Harsh future feared for progressive voices in Afghanistan
Senator Jan Muhammad Buledi, parliamentary leader of the National Party (NP) in the Senate, has warned that life has become increasingly harsh for people with enlightened and progressive thinking in Afghanistan following the Taliban’s return to power. He said it has become extremely difficult for such individuals to live with dignity under the current political […]
Supreme Court ruling on rape case sparks debate
ISLAMABAD: A recent Supreme Court verdict converting a rape conviction into a charge of fornication has triggered strong reactions from rights bodies and legal observers. The National Commission on the Status of Women (NCSW) criticised the judgement, while a dissenting judge warned against treating delays in reporting sexual assault as fatal to prosecution. Read More: […]
SC rules all divorces ineffective until 90-day period is completed
ISLAMABAD – The Supreme Court has issued a landmark ruling declaring that no form of divorce, including talaq-e-bidat (instant triple talaq), becomes effective until the mandatory 90-day period under Section 7 of the Muslim Family Laws Ordinance (MFLO), 1961, is completed. The judgment reinforces the legal requirement that every divorce must undergo a cooling-off and […]
Rights activists urge stronger action against tech-based gender violence
KARACHI: Rights activists have raised concerns over rising incidents of technology-based gender violence (GBV) in Pakistan, highlighting that most women remain unaware of how to respond or seek legal help. The concerns were voiced at an event organised by the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) on Thursday to mark the “16 Days of Activism […]
Senate passes domestic violence bill with stricter penalties
The Senate on Thursday approved the Domestic Violence (Prevention and Protection) Bill, 2025, introducing stricter punishments for individuals who threaten divorce or contract another marriage on baseless allegations. Read More: NA passes Domestic Violence (Prevention and Protection) Bill The legislation, already passed by the National Assembly, was cleared through a supplementary agenda after rules were suspended, bypassing the […]
LHC affirms: marriage can’t continue if both spouses say no
The Lahore High Court has upheld a family court’s khula decree, ruling that a marriage cannot continue if both spouses reject it. Justice Ahmad Nadeem Arshad stated that no Islamic, statutory, or equitable principle allows forcing a wife to remain married against her will. The court emphasized that mutual unwillingness destroys the foundation of marital […]