ISLAMABAD (Agencies): The Federal Shariat Court of Pakistan has declared the practice of depriving women of their inheritance rights under the so-called ‘Chadar and Parchi’ tradition as un-Islamic and unlawful. This practice involves coercing women, either verbally or in writing, into relinquishing their rightful share in inheritance.
A full court bench, led by Chief Justice Iqbal Hameedur Rahman, and including Justice Khadim M. Shaikh, Justice Dr. Muhammad Anwar, and Justice Ameer Muhammad, ruled that such traditions violate both Islamic principles and national laws. The court stated that the Quran and Sunnah unequivocally grant women their rightful share of inheritance, and any societal pressure to deprive them of these rights contravenes both Islamic teachings and legal frameworks.
The court ordered strict action against violators under Section 498 and emphasized the importance of raising awareness about laws protecting women’s inheritance rights. The judgment also highlighted the need for effective implementation of these laws.
The decision came after reports of the ‘Chadar and Parchi’ practice in Bannu district, where women were pressured into forfeiting their inheritance. The court reiterated that such customs, reminiscent of pre-Islamic ignorance, are neither prevalent nor hold any legitimacy according to the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government.
This landmark ruling reinforces the commitment to ensuring justice and upholding the inheritance rights of women in line with Islamic teachings and national legislation.