Federal ombudsperson helps woman get her property share

ISLAMABAD: The federal ombudsperson at the Federal Ombudsman Secretariat for Protection Against Harassment has helped a woman, who was deprived of her joint property worth Rs110 million by her former husband, get her right.

After an amicable settlement, the review petition of ex-husband Dr Shiraz Cheema was also disposed of on the decision in favour of the woman Maleeha Mehboob. Since the ex-husband did not object to the settlement proposal, the apartment in Sector E-11 and a plot in Sector B-7 were transferred to the woman.

The federal ombudsperson wrote in the decision that Islam gave women their rights 1,400 years ago, and that depriving a woman of her right to property is illegal and also against Islamic teachings.

Federal Ombudsperson Fauzia Viqar disposed of Dr Cheema’s review petition against her decision under the Enforcement of Women’s Property Rights Act, 2020. According to the decision, Maleeha Mehboob Haider, an IT professional, had filed a complaint against her ex-husband, stating that they got married on April 11, 2004, which ended in 2019 through Khula.

During their marriage, they jointly bought properties in Islamabad, including an apartment in Sector E-11 and three plots in Sector B-17. The complainant presented all documents, agreements and proof of payments related to the purchase.

Dr Cheema did not appear despite repeated notices, on which unilateral action was taken. After the decision, the complainant’s ex-husband filed a review petition. The court fixed the market value of the property at Rs110 million for the parties. The woman’s ex-husband was sent the settlement proposal, to which he did not object. The court ordered that the apartment and a plot be given to the complainant, the transfer costs of which she himself would bear.

The Multi-Professionals Cooperative Housing Society submitted a report on the completion of the transfer of the properties. The federal ombudsperson wrote in the decision that Pakistan’s constitution guarantees equal property rights to women.