Courts to facilitate family meetings before Eid

Special reunions to be held under the supervision of court officials

RAWALPINDI:

With Eidul Fitr just a week ahead, the District Court is all set to hold special Eid meetings among disgruntled members of families, divorced couples, separated couples and parents of pending divorce cases.

An official said that the meetings will start on Monday (today) and will continue till April 30 and over 100 meetings will be facilitated in a few phases.

Applications were invited for Eid meetings from parents separated from their children, he said, adding that special rooms have been set up where meetings will last two to three hours.

In some cases, children are in the custody of the mother and for some, children are in the custody of the father.

These meetings often present difficult and heart-warming scenes. Parents bring Eid garments, shoes, watches, glasses, toys, walkers and other gifts and get to spend time with children while they are given juices. These meetings are held under the protection of court officials.

A man named Faizan Arshad said that he had an unnecessary quarrel with his wife, got divorced two years ago and now regrets it as he deals with the harmful effects of separation.

He had requested to meet his three children on Eid. He said the children live with their mother and he paid a monthly stipend for them. “I have bought gifts and will give them to the kids in this meeting.”

He said those with family dispute cases in the courts should withdraw their cases, take things one step back and try not to overreact to the problem. He said, “Now I miss my children and their lives and education are being badly affected, but now I have no choice but to repent.”

 

Published in The Express Tribune, April 25^th, 2022.