Court Declares Denial of Women’s Inheritance Illegal and Un-Islamic

The Federal Constitutional Court has issued a landmark ruling reinforcing women’s inheritance rights, stating that no regional custom or family tradition can deprive women of their legal share in property.

The court declared that denying women their inheritance rights violates both national law and Islamic principles, emphasizing that inheritance rights are clearly defined in the Holy Quran and must be strictly protected.

In its verdict, the court set aside a decision of the Balochistan High Court and ruled that inheritance rights are divinely ordained and cannot be overridden by social practices or customs.

The judgment noted that women are often deprived of their rightful share through social pressure and fraudulent practices. It stressed that lower courts must carefully examine inheritance cases to ensure justice is served.

The ruling was issued in a petition filed by a woman identified as Bibi Amina, who had challenged the alleged denial of her share in her parents’ property by her brothers.

The court directed that the case be referred to a civil court to determine the proper division of the property shares in accordance with constitutional and legal provisions.

It further instructed the civil court to decide the distribution of assets strictly under the law, ensuring that all legal heirs receive their rightful inheritance.