Senate panel seeks changes to alimony laws

ISLAMABAD: The Senate Standing Committee for Legal Reforms has recommended changes in the laws pertaining to property rights of women after divorce.

Senator Farooq H Naek, who chaired the committee meeting, stressed on the need for a draft to be sent to the Council of Islamic Ideology that makes it mandatory upon a husband to pay alimony to his former wife after divorce. The woman should have her haq mehr and maintenance expenditures as soon as she is given a divorce counting her iddah (period of waiting), the committee stressed.

In Islam, Haq Mehr is to be given to the bride but most families get it waived off. It is important that women get economic protection after divorce while giving share in property of the orphaned children must be made obligatory, the committee agreed.

It also made recommendations aimed at simplifying the judicial system. It observed that due to the complex judicial procedures, cases of alimony are not only deferred but justice is not served for long times.

The committee also held discussion to comprehensively review the definition for land grabbers. It agreed to review the 2005 laws against land grabbers from scratch. It also decided to deal with the issue of Illegal possession of a sibling’s or a relative’s property.