Divorced parents reunite with children

On the occasion of Eid, family courts arrange meetings of parents, families with children of divorce

RAWALPINDI:

Family courts have granted 21 divorced couples permission to hold special "Eid meetings" with their children at the judicial complex on the occasion of Eidul Fitr.

On the occasion of every Eid, divorced couples are granted special permission by family courts to meet their children. The last of these meetings for this Eid will be held on April 8.

These meetings, which last for one and a half hours, are facilitated in a designated facility within the judicial complex. They are conducted under the supervision and protection of court officials, in which the third party is not present. 

The facility is equipped with comfortable seating arrangements and ensures utmost privacy. This dedicated time is exclusively allocated for the meeting. In most cases, since the children of divorced couples are living with their mothers, they are reunited with their fathers on this occasion.

In yesterday’s meeting, it was observed that separated fathers came to visit their children bearing gifts which include clothes, shoes, toys, and snacks. Other family members, like maternal and paternal grandparents and aunts and uncles, also join in the meeting for a family reunion with the young ones. Many were seen teary-eyed at the emotional meeting.

These divorced couples have remarried again after their divorce. After divorce, children live with their mothers, paternal grandmothers and maternal grandmothers. Two individuals from the UK came for a special Eid gathering with the children. They presented Eid presents to the children. They gifted Eid presents to the children. The parents, who had been separated from their children, began to cry and hugged them upon seeing the children, their eyes filled with tears. Meanwhile, children continued to express their joy upon receiving the Eid gift baskets.

Muhammad Banaras, a father, shared that he got divorced two years ago after quarrels. He re-married after the divorce. His first wife is currently taking care of their two young children, whom he recently reunited with after a two-year gap. He expressed that he regretted losing the connection with his children owing to his hasty decision to divorce his previous in a fit of anger.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 7^th, 2024.