Khula is the right of a Muslim wife to seek dissolution of marriage by approaching the Family Court of competent jurisdiction. The process is governed by the West Pakistan Family Courts Act, 1964 read with the Muslim Family Laws Ordinance, 1961.
1. Where to file
The suit is filed before the Family Court within whose jurisdiction the wife ordinarily resides. This is a deliberate protective provision — a wife is not required to travel to her husband’s city.
2. Pleadings
The suit for dissolution of marriage is drafted setting out the date and place of nikkah, the registered nikkahnama details, the grounds (including the wife’s aversion to the marriage — a recognised standalone ground for khula), and the reliefs claimed (dissolution, maintenance, dower, dowry articles, custody where applicable).
3. Pre-trial reconciliation
The Family Court is statutorily required to attempt reconciliation. If reconciliation fails, the court proceeds to dissolve the marriage on terms — typically requiring the wife to return the haq mehr already received.
4. Decree and timeline
By statute, the Family Court must dispose of a khula suit within 6 months. In practice, well-prepared suits are decreed within 3–4 months at Lahore Family Courts.
5. Union Council certificate
The decree is forwarded to the concerned Union Council, which then runs the iddat period of 90 days and issues the effective certificate. The marriage stands dissolved from the date of the certificate.
6. Allied claims: maintenance, custody, dowry
We commonly combine the khula suit with claims for past and future maintenance, recovery of dowry articles (jahez), and custody of minor children — all of which fall within the Family Court’s jurisdiction.
Last updated: 21 February 2026
