The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Friday allowed a woman to stay with her husband, whom she had married of her own free will, while directing the husband to increase the dower amount (haq mehr) from $1,000 to $10,000.
Justice Farooq Haider presided over the proceedings of a habeas corpus petition filed by the woman’s father, who claimed his daughter was being illegally detained by her husband. In response to the court’s notice, the local police produced the couple before the bench.
During the hearing, the woman stated that she was an adult and had married her husband of her own choice. She denied allegations of abduction or coercion and expressed her desire to remain with her husband instead of returning to her father.
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Upon questioning the husband’s financial standing, the court learned that he earned $2,000 per month while working in the United States. Justice Haider observed that the original dower of $1,000 was inadequate to ensure the woman’s financial security and directed the husband to raise it to $10,000. The husband complied with the directive, submitting an affidavit confirming the revised amount.
Based on the woman’s testimony and the husband’s compliance, the court dismissed the habeas corpus petition, allowing the woman to continue living with her husband.
