50% Property Share Proposal for Divorced Women Sparks Debate in Senate

Islamabad: A proposal to give divorced women up to a 50 percent share in their husband’s property after long marriages became the center of debate in the Senate Standing Committee on Religious Affairs, with lawmakers divided over whether the move should become law.

The committee decided to seek guidance from the Council of Islamic Ideology before moving forward, while also raising serious questions over complaints and service issues during Hajj 2026.

The Senate Standing Committee on Religious Affairs meeting was held at Parliament House, Islamabad, under the chairmanship of Senator Atta ur Rehman.

During the meeting, Senator Syed Ali Zafar presented a private member’s bill aimed at providing financial protection to women after divorce, especially those who spend decades supporting their families.

Senator Ali Zafar said many women face severe financial difficulties after divorce, particularly after marriages lasting 40 years or more. He said some women are left without proper housing or a source of income despite spending their lives managing homes, raising children and supporting their husbands.

Under the proposed bill, a clause could be added to the marriage contract allowing a divorced wife to receive a 50 percent share in her husband’s property to provide economic protection.

Senator Ali Zafar argued that similar laws exist in several countries, including some Muslim-majority nations. He said a wife’s household responsibilities, childcare and support for her husband should also be recognized as economic contributions.

He referred to legal discussions and examples from countries including Iran, Syria, Libya, Jordan, Malaysia, the United Kingdom and India, saying that family contributions should have legal recognition.

However, some lawmakers raised concerns over the proposal. Senator Bushra Anjum Butt said that if a wife is financially strong and supports her husband, the rights of husbands should also be considered. She said modern families often depend on contributions from both men and women, so laws should maintain balance between both sides.

Senator Hafiz Abdul Karim opposed the bill in its current form and said Pakistan’s laws should be based on Islamic principles rather than Western ideas. He said Islam already provides rights and protection to women.

Senator Sarmad Ali argued that if countries like Turkey and Iran have similar laws, they cannot automatically be considered against Islamic teachings. He said the proposal should be examined carefully rather than rejected.

Committee Chairman Senator Atta-ur-Rehman said no law in Pakistan can be made against the Quran and Sunnah. He suggested sending the proposed bill to the Council of Islamic Ideology for expert opinion.

Federal Minister for Religious Affairs Sardar Muhammad Yousuf also supported seeking the council’s opinion and said the matter should be reviewed according to current circumstances.

Senator Dinesh Kumar said similar protections exist under Hindu personal law and supported further discussion of the bill.

After detailed debate, the committee decided either to send the proposal to the Council of Islamic Ideology or invite council representatives to the next meeting before making a final decision.