A soon to be divorced mother of four has threatened to immolate herself and her children in front of the Supreme Court if she is not provided sustenance for her children.
Addressing a press conference along with her children, mother-in-law and brother-in-law, Raham Begum said that her husband, Bakht-e-Room, has severed all ties with her and their children after informing her of his intent to divorce her. She claims he has refused to provide for her children and has also denied her share in his property.
“I am providing for my children by taking loans from relatives but now they have refused to lend. I only appeal for sustenance for my children, which is their right,” said Begum.
Her mother-in-law accused her son’s first wife of “forcing” him to divorce Begum, his second wife. “My son always treated both his wives equally, and even provided them with separate houses. I don’t understand what he is doing now,” she said. The mother-in-law said she would have provided for Begum and her grandchildren but she lacks the means.
“We are all in favour of Begum,” said her brother-in-law Shah-e-Room, He claimed that his brother’s first wife, Farida, along with her elder daughter Mumtaz and son-in-law Mohammad Sohaib, recently sold his brother’s house worth Rs10 million and did not give a rupee to Begum or her children.
A lawyer from Swat valley, Saima Anwar, said that although a husband has the right to divorce his wife, he is legally bound to provide for his wife and children. “If the husband refuses to support [his wife and children], he is liable to punishment under the law,” she said.
Anwar explained that during the first three months of divorce, the husband must provide residence and maintenance to his former wife and children. He is bound to financially support his daughters till their marriage and his sons till they are 18 years of age. The husband is also bound to pay the woman the complete amount of Haq Mehr, she added.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 27th, 2012.
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