The Federal Shariat Court’s recent ruling on women’s inheritance rights has been met with widespread praise across Pakistan.
Civil society, rights organizations, and women’s advocates have lauded the decision as a landmark step toward gender equality. The court affirmed that no tradition or custom can strip a woman of her rightful inheritance, reinforcing financial fairness as outlined in the Quran.
Read more: Shariat Court Rules Against Forced Inheritance Waivers for Women, Calling Them ‘Un-Islamic’
For years, women in Pakistan have been denied their inheritance due to entrenched customs and patriarchal norms. Experts argue that this systemic injustice has contributed to women’s economic marginalization, limiting their financial independence.
Haaris Mahmood Chaudhary, President and CEO of Mobilink Bank, emphasized Pakistan’s complex relationship with gender equality, stating that deep-seated biases in inheritance practices have long disadvantaged women. Harmful traditions such as dowry, levirate marriages, cousin marriages, and Quran marriages often deprive women of their rightful property.
Mobilink Bank’s ‘Invisible Heirs’ campaign has worked to raise awareness about these issues, sparking national discussions on women’s inheritance rights. The initiative received widespread support, earning international recognition, including the GSMA Glomo Award 2025 in Barcelona.
Sara Kayani, Head of Marketing at Mobilink Bank and the force behind the campaign, expressed pride in the national dialogue the initiative has fostered. She highlighted a groundbreaking verdict in a 14-year legal battle over an estate divided among five sons, five daughters, and a widow, seeing it as a testament to the growing momentum for change.
Mobilink Bank has also conducted awareness sessions for over 3,000 lawyers, equipping them with tools like the bank’s inheritance calculator to help assess clients’ assets and promote equitable inheritance distribution.
The FSC ruling has ignited a national conversation on challenging discriminatory customs that disinherit women. Lawyer Maisa Aman praised the decision for declaring practices like ‘Chadar’ and ‘Parchi’ illegal and un-Islamic. Journalist Hasnaat Malik noted that the verdict aligns with the teachings of the Quran and Sunnah, which explicitly grant women their rightful share.
Despite the ruling’s significance, activists stress that continuous efforts are necessary to ensure its implementation, particularly in rural and conservative areas where resistance to change remains strong.
