25/10/2025
SC reinforces women’s autonomy in khula, recognises psychological abuse:
In a landmark ruling, the Supreme Court has reinforced a woman’s autonomy in seeking Khula — the dissolution of marriage — and recognised psychological abuse as a valid ground for divorce, underlining that emotional and mental cruelty are as serious as physical violence in a marital relationship.
The judgment, authored by Justice Ayesha A Malik, was issued in response to a petition filed by Dr Seema Hanif Khan, who challenged the Peshawar High Court’s dismissal of her dissolution of marriage claim. The court had previously denied her request on the grounds that her husband’s consent was required and that reconciliation efforts had not been exhausted.
