FSC declares women's right to khula as absolute.

ISLAMABAD -- The Federal Shariat Court (FSC) has held that the right of khula granted to women by the Holy Quran and Sunnah is an absolute and unique right, whereby a marriage can be dissolved through a court at her will.

In a 13-page detailed verdict, Justice Dr Syed Muhammad Anwer ruled that a wife can get this right by showing her willingness to return the mehar (dower) to her husband and in addition by simply stating in a court of law that she can no longer live with her husband as his wife 'within the prescribed limits set by the Almighty Allah as a reason for dissolution of marriage'.

This right of women cannot be denied by the court of law, the order read.

The FSC, headed by Chief Justice Iqbal Hameed ur Rehman, presided over two legal inquiries. One, determining if the right of khula is an unconditional entitlement for women in Islam and identifying the...