For many Pakistani women living outside the country, ending a difficult marriage can seem challenging due to distance and legal complexities. However, Pakistani family law provides a clear process for khula, allowing women abroad to seek dissolution of marriage through the Family Court in Pakistan. Khula is a woman’s right under Islamic and Pakistani law to request separation when living with her husband is no longer possible, whether due to cruelty, neglect, incompatibility, or other valid reasons.
An overseas Pakistani woman can initiate the khula process by appointing a trusted lawyer in Pakistan through a Special Power of Attorney. This legal representative files a suit in the Family Court on her behalf, eliminating the need for her to travel back. The court issues notices to the husband, and if reconciliation efforts fail or the husband does not appear, the court may grant a decree of khula. After the decree, the Union Council finalizes the process by registering the divorce and issuing a certificate following the mandatory 90-day period.
The overseas khula process ensures that women living in countries like the UK, USA, UAE, Canada, or Saudi Arabia are not deprived of their legal rights. With professional legal support, the procedure becomes faster, transparent, and less stressful, enabling women to move forward with dignity. Khula for overseas Pakistanis stands as an important safeguard, proving that distance does not diminish a woman’s access to justice under Pakistani law.
