ISLAMABAD, Pakistan’s Supreme Court has ruled that property designated as dower (Haq Mehr) in a marriage contract cannot lawfully be sold to another person, declaring such a transaction to be an act of bad faith.
The ruling was issued by a three-member bench headed by Chief Justice Yahya Afridi while deciding an appeal involving a woman from Multan over her dower rights.
In its judgment, the apex court held that once a property has been specifically included as Haq Mehr in a marriage agreement, transferring or selling that property to a third party undermines the legal rights of the wife and reflects dishonest intent.
The court emphasized that dower is a legally enforceable obligation under Pakistan’s family laws and that any attempt to deprive a wife of property promised as part of her marriage contract cannot be justified.
The decision is expected to strengthen legal protection for women’s property rights in Pakistan by reinforcing the binding nature of dower agreements and discouraging fraudulent transfers of assets promised under marriage contracts.
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Legal experts say the ruling could serve as an important precedent in future family law disputes involving property included in Islamic marriage contracts.
