Islamabad, March 19, 2025: The Federal Shariat Court has issued a landmark ruling declaring customs and traditions that deprive women of their rightful inheritance as un-Islamic. The court has also directed authorities to take criminal action against individuals who deny women their legally mandated share.
The decision was delivered by a four-member bench led by Justice Iqbal Hameedur Rehman in response to a petition filed by Fouzia Jalal Shah. During the hearings, the court was informed about the longstanding practice of Chadar and Parchi in Bannu, which allegedly prevent women from claiming their inheritance. However, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government clarified that these customs are neither officially recognized nor hold any legal standing.
In its verdict, the court emphasized that depriving women of inheritance rights mirrors pre-Islamic practices of discrimination and injustice. The ruling reaffirms that Islamic law guarantees women an undeniable share in inheritance and mandates strict legal enforcement to uphold this fundamental right.
