Pakistan’s Federal Ombudsperson for Protection Against Harassment (FOSPAH) has welcomed a recent judgment by the Islamabad High Court (IHC) that significantly advances the recognition of matrimonial property rights in Pakistan.
In a landmark judgment this week, the IHC ruled that all assets acquired during the subsistence of a marriage, movable or immovable and regardless of the title holder, constitute “matrimonial property” and are subject to equitable distribution between spouses.
“By affirming that a woman’s contribution to a marriage is not confined to financial input alone, the Court has underscored the legal value of non-financial contributions, including caregiving, household management, and support to the family unit,” the federal ombudsperson’s office said.