Pakistan Human Rights Movement in Collaboration with #WomenInLaw #KPChapter and University of Home Economics organised a session on Rights and Privileges given to women by law and Islam: Nikkah, Dower, Maintenance, Divorce, Inheritance.
The session was held on 18th of October 2019 at College of Home Economics, University of Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and was led by Advocates Mehwish Muhib Kakakhel, Zeenat Muhib & Kainat Muhib.
The session aimed to highlight the rights Pakistani law and Shariah has provided women in family sphere.
Advocate Zeenat Muhib Kakakhel and Kainat Muhib Kakakhel explained clauses of Nikkahnama from legal perspective and how it is to be properly filled and where it is submitted for registration.
Majority of the participants stated that prior to the training they were not aware of the clauses mentioned in Nikkahnama except that of Haq Mehr.
Students were given an extensive study on dower, entitlement to maintenance of women and her children.
Difference between divorce pronounced by husband, judicial divorce and ‘khula’ were also explained with the help of laws and judgments of Pakistani courts.
Students were actively participating by asking questions and each question would give rise to other questions which made the session not only interactive but also informative for all the participants.
Participants were then given an awareness session on the laws of inheritance by Mehwish Muhib Kakakhel. Most of the students during this session shared some stories in which women were deprived of this right. Most of them were asking questions which someone they know had faced and were showing keen interest in learning about their right to inheritance. Students were also introduced with the KP Enforcement of Women Ownership Rights Act 2012 that by this law no one can deprive women from their right of ownership, be it their Haq Mehr, property etc.
The event was concluded with Ms. Nuzhat Firdous, Chairperson, Department of Human Development and Family, University of Home Economics thanking and presenting a little gift to Mehwish Muhib Kakakhel as a token of love and respect.
Recommendations:
1. More Awareness sessions need to be scheduled for more nuanced understanding of laws and rights among the law students.
2. access to resources and publications to be made easier for the students.
