Domestic disputes overwhelm family courts

Women file over 8.1k cases; over 1.1k divorce decrees granted

RAWALPINDI:

Family courts across Rawalpindi district have witnessed a sharp increase in domestic litigation, with more than 8,100 family cases filed by women during the first six months of 2026, reflecting a growing burden on the district's judicial system.

Official figures available from the district's 43 family courts show that between January 1 and June 30, 8,105 women instituted family proceedings involving divorce, dissolution of marriage (khula), child maintenance, personal maintenance, recovery of dowry articles, payment of dower (Haq Mehr), and child custody.

During the same period, the courts granted 1,114 divorce decrees, while 159 children were recovered and restored to their mothers through court orders. Interim maintenance orders for children were issued in 7,812 cases, directing husbands to make immediate financial support payments.

The courts also ordered 102 husbands to return dowry articles and pay outstanding dower, while 41 women who had left their matrimonial homes following domestic disputes were referred for reconciliation in an effort to preserve their marriages.

Court records indicate that an increasing number of Christian women have also approached family courts following reforms to Christian family law, which have simplified the legal process for seeking divorce.

According to available figures, 81 Christian women have filed divorce petitions so far this year. Previously, obtaining a divorce under Christian personal law was significantly more restrictive.

Legal practitioners dealing with family litigation claim that disputes linked to social media use—including Facebook, TikTok, Instagram, Messenger and online messaging platforms—are becoming increasingly common in matrimonial cases.

In one petition before a family court, a woman identified as Nusrat Ghayoor sought a decree of khula, stating that although she fulfilled her household responsibilities, observed her marital obligations and had no issues relating to her character, her husband prohibited her from watching TikTok and creating videos on the platform, resulting in persistent domestic disputes that ultimately led her to seek dissolution of the marriage.

According to court-related statistics, 211 women from the jurisdictions of the district's 34 police stations left their homes to contract marriages of their own choice through the courts during the first half of the year.

Lawyers say the increase in divorce cases has also led to a record rise in applications relating to parental access and visitation rights involving children separated from one of their parents.

Family law practitioners further contend that 70% to 75% of marriages ending in divorce involve relatively recent unions, particularly those described as incompatible matches, marriages outside the traditional family network, love marriages or relationships that originated through social media. The figures and assessment represent the opinions of legal practitioners and have not been independently verified.

The growing caseload has resulted in overcrowding at family courts in Rawalpindi district courts and tehsil headquarters, where women, many accompanied by young children, attend proceedings daily. At present, approximately 16,000 new and pending family cases are awaiting adjudication across the district's family courts.

Family law expert Sabtain Bukhari, said the traditional family system should be strengthened to reduce the number of matrimonial disputes reaching the courts.