LAHORE: The Lahore High Court (LHC) ruled on Friday that a woman who chose to marry of her own volition could go with her husband, but instructed the groom to increase the dower (haq mehr) from $1,000 to $10,000.
The case arose from a habeas corpus petition filed by the woman’s father, who sought her recovery from her husband, alleging illegal custody. Following the petition, local police presented the couple in court.
When questioned by the court, the woman confirmed she had married by her own choice and was not abducted or coerced. She expressed her desire to live with her husband, not her father.
The judge then inquired about the groom’s income, and he revealed that he earned $2,000 per month from his job in the United States. Justice Haider deemed the original $1,000 dower insufficient for the woman’s protection and decided it should be increased to $10,000.
As a result, the groom submitted an affidavit agreeing to the increased dower, and the court dismissed the petition based on the woman’s statement.
