Faisalabad : National Seminar on Laws Regulating Women’s Land Rights in Pakistan Held at Government College University Faisalabad with Collaboration of HEC.
The Department of History at Government College University Faisalabad hosted a national seminar on “Laws Regulating Women’s Land Rights in Pakistan” on June 04, 2024, under the National Research Programme for Universities (NRPU) Project No. 16372.The seminar aimed to explore the legal framework governing women’s land rights in Pakistan, with a focus on the 1973 Constitution, relevant acts, and Islamic perspectives. Dr. Mazhar Abbas Gondal hosted the event, which saw active participation from students and faculty members.
Ms. Mughiza Imtiaz, Director of the Women’s Right Committee of Pakistan Human Resource Network (PHRN), also quoted a relevant Quranic verse, Surah Al-Nisa, Verse 124:
“If any do deeds of righteousness, be they male or female, and have faith, they will enter Heaven, and not the least injustice will be done to them.”
She also highlighted the relevance of SDGs Goals to the topic, particularly Goal 5: Gender Equality, Goal 10: Reduced Inequalities, Goal 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions, and Goal 17: Partnership for the Goals.
She delivered a comprehensive speech, discussing articles from the 1973 Constitution related to women’s land rights, including Article 23: “Right to own property”, Article 25: “Equality before the law and prohibition of discrimination based on gender”, Article 26: “Protection against discrimination in the enjoyment of fundamental rights, including property rights”, Article 27: “Prohibition of discrimination in public office appointments, including land management and distribution”, Article 28: “Preservation of language, script, and culture, including the right to inherit and own property”, and Article 34: “Protection of minorities, including women, from discrimination and persecution”.
In addition to the constitutional guarantees, several Acts have been passed to protect women’s land rights in Pakistan. The Married Women’s Property Act, 1874, protects married women’s property rights, ensuring financial security. The Dissolution of Muslim Marriages Act, 1939, allows women to seek divorce and retain property rights. The Muslim Family Laws Ordinance, 1961, regulates marriage, divorce, and inheritance for Muslims, protecting women’s rights in family matters. The West Pakistan Muslim Personal Law Shariat Application Act, 1962, applies Islamic law to personal matters like inheritance, ensuring women’s rights are protected under Islamic principles. The Prevention of Anti-Women Practices Act, 2011, prohibits practices like forced marriage and dowry demands, protecting women from harmful cultural practices. The Enforcement of Women’s Property Rights Bill, 2020, ensures women’s property rights are protected and enforced, providing legal recourse for women to claim their property rights.
The Inheritance rights of women in Pakistan are also protected under various laws. A daughter inherits ½ of the property if she is the only child of her parents. A mother inherits 1/6th of the property following her son’s death, and a wife inherits 1/8th of the property following her husband’s death if they have children. Other property rights of women in Pakistan include the right to own property, execute a Will, dispose of property through Hiba (gift), and execute a Gift Deed. Women also have full rights to their dowry, which is a movable or immovable property given by the bride’s family.
Advocate Ms. Farkhanda Fari , the keynote speaker, shed light on the legal challenges and obstacles faced by women in accessing and owning property in Pakistan. The discussion emphasized potential solutions and strategies for promoting women’s empowerment and gender equality.
Strategies to tackle the challenges facing women’s land rights in Pakistan include: Legal literacy programs for women, support for women’s empowerment initiatives, policy reforms to remove discriminatory laws and practices, and increased access to resources and credit for women. However, obstacles remain, including: Social and cultural barriers that perpetuate gender inequality, limited awareness of legal rights among women, discriminatory practices and attitudes, and lack of access to resources and credit for women.
Despite these legal protections, women in Pakistan face several obstacles and challenges in exercising their property rights. Social and cultural barriers perpetuate gender inequality, and limited awareness of legal rights among women hinders their ability to claim their rights. Discriminatory practices and attitudes, as well as lack of access to resources and credit, also prevent women from fully exercising their property rights. The seminar highlighted the importance of increasing awareness, empowerment, and access to resources for women to overcome these challenges.
The seminar was a huge success, with a total of 150 participants, including 70% male and 30% female. The participation of males in the event was seen as a positive step towards creating a more inclusive and equitable society. The significant male presence was particularly notable, as it highlighted the importance of involving men in the conversation around women’s land rights. The event demonstrated that gender equality is not a solely female concern, but rather a collective responsibility that requires the active participation of both men and women. A question-answer session followed the speeches, and awards were presented to both speakers in recognition of their contributions. The event resulted in a renewed commitment to promoting women’s land rights in Pakistan, with a focus on increasing awareness, empowerment, and access to resources for women.