Man to pay for pregnant wife’s travel to court

Woman had to appear in case against husband who 'kicked her out of house'

LAHORE:

A family court judge, in view of the pregnancy of a petitioner, has ordered her husband, the respondent, to pay Rs2,000 for her travel to the court in a car.

The lawyers from both sides argued over whether the woman could travel in public transport in an advanced stage of pregnancy. Judge Sohail Afzal remarked that giving birth was the most daunting task in the world. “Neither this court nor anyone else can gauge the suffering, pain and hardship being endured by the plaintiff at present.”

The woman had to appear for cross-examination of witnesses in the case filed for seeking maintenance expenses and dower articles from her husband who had allegedly kicked her out of his house. When the plaintiff’s counsel told the court that it was difficult for her to come to the court, the defence lawyer opposed the plea for granting her exemption.

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The plaintiff’s counsel informed the court that she was due to deliver the baby of the defendant by next week. At this stage the defendant’s counsel remarked that many women visiting the courts were pregnant and there were no special circumstances in the case.

The family court judge remarked that the remarks passed by the counsel were “vague and absurd”. He admitted the arguments of the plaintiff’s counsel.

“In view of the plight of the plaintiff the case is adjourned subject to a cost of Rs2,000 as expenses which will be paid by the defendant to the plaintiff so that she can book a car for her appearance before this court. Further it is directed that in case of default on behalf of defendant, right of defendant for cross-examination over prosecution witnesses be deemed struck off," the court order read.

The prosecution witnesses were ordered to appear on the next date of hearing.

Petitioner Kalsoom Bibi had married Abdul Majeed in 2015 and the couple had one child. She contended in her petition that her husband had kicked her out of his house when she was pregnant the second time.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 30^th, 2021.