Pakistan, June 25 -- The Lahore High Court has ruled that a woman remains entitled to her dower (haq mehr) even if rukhsati has not taken place or the marriage was not consummated. The court set aside the decisions of lower courts while accepting a woman's appeal in a case involving khula and dower rights. The ruling clarifies important legal protections for women under family law.

In its judgment, the Rawalpindi Bench of the Lahore High Court stated that the right to dower arises from the marriage contract and is not dependent on rukhsati or the establishment of marital relations. The court emphasized that women cannot be deprived of their lawful entitlement on these grounds.

The judgment further stated that if no specific time for pay...