Question :

If a husband verbally abuses his wife and not tends to provide maintenance and his family also use harsh words…. what to do.?

ANSWER:

If a husband is verbally abusing his wife, using insulting language, refusing to provide maintenance, and his family is also mentally harassing or humiliating her, the wife has legal remedies under Pakistani law.

First, the wife should try to preserve evidence, such as WhatsApp messages, call recordings, witnesses, medical record if there is any physical violence, and proof that the husband is not providing maintenance.

Under Pakistani family law, the husband is legally bound to maintain his wife. If he is not providing food, residence, daily expenses, medical expenses, or other basic needs, the wife may file a suit for maintenance before the Family Court. If there are children, she may also claim maintenance for the children. The Family Courts Act, 1964 specifically covers matters relating to maintenance, dower, dowry, personal belongings, custody and related family disputes.

If the abuse, threats, harassment, or pressure from the husband or his family is serious, the wife may also approach the police, Women Protection Centre, or the relevant court for protection. In Punjab, the Protection of Women against Violence Act, 2016 covers domestic, psychological, verbal, emotional and economic abuse, including abuse by husband or relatives. The wife may seek protection, residence, monetary relief, and other appropriate legal remedies.

If the wife does not want to continue the marriage due to cruelty, non-maintenance, abusive conduct, or unbearable behaviour, she may file a suit for Khula/dissolution of marriage before the Family Court. Along with Khula, she may also claim maintenance, dower, dowry articles, custody of children, and other lawful rights according to the facts of the case.

Therefore, the proper legal steps may be:

  1. Preserve all available evidence of abuse and non-maintenance.
  2. Send a legal notice, if appropriate.
  3. File a maintenance case before the Family Court.
  4. File a protection/harassment complaint if there are threats or violence.
  5. File a Khula/dissolution of marriage case if she cannot continue the marriage.
  6. Claim children’s maintenance and custody/visitation orders, if children are involved.

For proper advice, the wife should share the Nikah Nama, CNIC copies, details of children, husband’s income/source of income, proof of abuse, and details of maintenance not being paid.

You may contact Pak-Lawyer Associates for legal consultation and case filing.

Pak-Lawyer Associates
www.paklawyer.com
WhatsApp: +92 321 4610092

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