The Supreme Court has dismissed various petitions related to dowry and haq mehr, reaffirming that the husband is legally bound to fulfill the obligations mentioned in the nikahnama. The hearing was conducted by a two-member bench headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan Yahya Afridi.
During the proceedings, Chief Justice Yahya Afridi observed that all items written as haq mehr must be paid by the husband. He stated that when a man enters into marriage, he is legally obligated to fulfill the commitments recorded in the marriage contract, and there is no room for deviation from these terms.
At this stage, the petitioner’s counsel argued that 40 tola of gold mentioned as haq mehr was excessive and said the husband was willing to pay 20 tola instead. The lawyer requested the court to show leniency in the matter.
In response, the Chief Justice remarked that increasing the amount slightly beyond 20 tola might persuade the woman to agree to a settlement. However, he clarified that the court cannot intervene in such personal matters and that both parties must resolve the issue through mutual understanding.
