Lahore High Court upholds women's dower rights despite khula

The Lahore High Court (LHC) issued a 14‑page judgment confirming that a woman’s right to Haq Mehr (dower) is not automatically forfeited when she seeks khula, the legal dissolution of marriage. Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani rejected a petition by Arsalan that challenged a family‑court order directing him to pay the dower to his former wife, emphasizing that each case must be decided on its facts and that family courts have the authority to order payment where legally due.

The ruling also clarified that physical, mental, emotional and financial abuse all constitute cruelty under Pakistani law and that the reliable testimony of a wife can be sufficient to prove it. The judgment called for legislative reforms to eliminate confusion surrounding Haq Mehr and to reinforce legal protections for women’s financial rights in marriage.