Record surge in divorce reunions

Judicial complex hosts up to 40 reunions daily, but lack of facilities causes distress

RAWALPINDI:

The number of meetings between divorced parents and their estranged children has reached record levels in Rawalpindi, with 30 to 40 such reunions now taking place daily at the judicial complex's special facilitation centres.

Often accompanied by grandparents, uncles, and aunts, most of these children live with their mothers, while many fathers have remarried.

Court permission from a family judge is required for these meetings, after which a specific day and time are allotted.

The special meeting centre, located opposite the district and sessions judge's court, can accommodate four to six families at a time. When numbers exceed capacity, visitors wait in sweltering heat without a dedicated waiting area or drinking water.

A public cooler has been broken for months, forcing visitors to buy bottled water. During rain, families wait in corridors or verandas.

Meetings run from 10am to 3pm, lasting 40 to 50 minutes. However, some extend to 90 minutes if court staff are tipped. Emotional scenes are common. Children receive gifts, toys, food, and cash from visiting parents. Four to five years ago, such meetings were held only two or three times a month, later becoming weekly, and now daily, reflecting a sharp rise in divorce cases.

One father, Muhammad Nadeem, who has three children with his first wife, said the meetings are emotionally painful and urged couples in disputes to reconcile before it's too late.

"This anger will harm you, and your children will suffer," he warned.

Background

A record number of new family disputes were filed in Rawalpindi's family courts during the first quarter of 2025, from January 1 to March 31.

A total of 1,451 new cases were registered, including disputes over alimony, child custody, dower (Haq Mehr), and return of dowry items. Additionally, 41 husbands approached the courts seeking orders to bring back estranged wives who had left their homes.

For the first time, 21 Christian women also filed for divorce following legal reforms that now allow Christian women to seek divorce or separation without going through the previously required and complex process of annulment.

During the three-month period, the courts issued 106 divorce decrees on the basis of khula (separation initiated by the wife) and ordered 310 husbands or fathers to pay expenses for their wives and children.

Courts also ordered the reunification of 13 estranged couples and returned 75 children from paternal custody to their mothers. According to court sources, five to eight new family cases are being filed daily, sometimes reaching up to 15 to 20 cases per day. The courts also helped reconcile 55 couples, resulting in case dismissals.

Family law advocates cited the rise in social media use; Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Messenger, and YouTube; as a major contributing factor to the breakdown of marriages. The availability of modern smartphones to teenagers has reportedly led to a 50 per cent increase in elopements and love marriages.