A family court in Rawalpindi has sentenced a father to one year of rigorous imprisonment for failing to pay Rs200,000 in maintenance for his two minor children despite repeated court orders.
Family Judge Zeeshan Butt issued the sentence against Zafar Mahmood, son of Sabir Hussain, in a case filed by his former wife, Jabeen Akhtar, following their divorce.
The court ordered that Mahmood be transferred to Adiala Jail, with his imprisonment commencing on November 14, 2026, and continuing until November 26, 2027, according to the court’s order.
The judge also ruled that the father would not be released on bail during the specified period. However, the order allows him to secure immediate release by depositing one-third of the outstanding maintenance amount and submitting a surety bond undertaking to pay the remaining balance.
The case, titled Jabeen Akhtar versus Zafar Mahmood, had been under consideration for approximately one year before the court ordered Mahmood to pay Rs200,000 towards the maintenance of his two children.
During proceedings to enforce the decree, the court issued six warning notices directing him to deposit the outstanding amount.
Despite these notices, the payment remained unpaid.
Mahmood subsequently appeared before the court and surrendered, explaining that he was unemployed and facing severe financial difficulties.
He told the judge that he did not have sufficient money even to purchase food for his household and was therefore unable to arrange the Rs200,000 payment.
He further stated that he had exhausted his borrowing options and could not raise the required amount because of prolonged unemployment.
The court observed that the maintenance order constituted a binding judicial decree and that Mahmood remained legally obligated to comply with it.
Following his continued failure to pay the amount, the judge ordered his imprisonment and directed that he be sent to Adiala Jail.
According to the case details, Jabeen Akhtar is originally from Faisalabad, where she returned to live with her parents after the divorce.
Her former husband is a resident of Mari Jabar Road in Rawalpindi.
The court’s order provides Mahmood with an opportunity to obtain release by making the specified partial payment and furnishing a guarantee for the remaining maintenance amount.